Gems in Myth, Legend, and Lore (by Bruch Knuth)
   Jeweler's press 1999

+AMBER+
The Myth of Phaeton and the Heliades: Greek
   Phaeton, son of Phoebus Apollo, the sun god, asked his father to 
alloww him to drive his team of wild horses and chariot of the Sun.
His journey started well, but Phaeton was careless in controlling the
steeds.  The horses bolted and pulled the chariot too close to the Earth,
setting it ablaze.  The entire planet was in flames, the forests burned,
the land was parched, and rocks melted.  Phaeton's careless behavior led
to the origins of volcanoes and vast deserts.  The heat was so intense
that the residents of Africa were burned black.  To prevent the Earth's
total destruction, Zeus struck Phaeton dead with a lightning bolt.  The
Sun retreated from the Earth and Paheton's body fell into the River 
Eridanus.  The nymphs of the stream pulled his body from the water and
buried him on the river bank.  In time his three sisters, the Heliades
(aka Electrides), came to search for his grave.  Upon finding it, they
vowed to stay with their dead brother and morn him for eternity.  As the
Heliades wept, their bodies took root in the river bank and were covered
by the bark of neighoring trees.  Their arms became branches, their
bodies trunks, and the three sisters were gradualling transformed into
trees.  Their tears continued to flow and, as they hardened in the sun,
were turned to amber.  These amber tears fell into the river and 
traveled out to sea.  When the tides come to the shore, the evidence of
their sorrow is spread upon the sand.


The Myth of Jurate and Kastytis: Aistian
 The Aistians are ancient ancestors of the Lituanians, Aestiorum Gents,
meaning the "Honorables."
  Along the coast of the Baltic Sea, near the mouth of the Sventoji
River, lived and worked a courageous fisherman named Kastytis.  The
fairest of all the goddesses, a mermaid named Jurate, lived in a palace
of amber deep beneath the sea.  Kastytis would cast his fishing nets 
into the sea, a kingdom ruled by fair Jurate.  The goddess, angered by
this intrusion, sent her mermaids to warn him to cease fishing in her
domain.  Kastytis refused and continued to cast his nets.  Jurate 
decided to come to the surface and confront Kastytis directly.  When 
she saw how handsome and courageous he was, she immediately fell deeply
in love with him.  Jurate decided that to keep her love, she would bring
him to her palace to live.  Perkunas, god of thunder and father of all 
gods, was angered to find an immortal in love with a mortal.  He knew
that Jurate was promised in marriage to the god of water, Patrimpas.  To
end Jurate's ill-advised love, Perkunas sent a lightning bolt to kill
her mortal lover and destroy the amber palace.  To further punish her,
Jurate was chained to the palace ruins and left to morn the loss of her
love for eternity.  The tears she wept were of pure amber.  When storms
stir the Baltic Sea, fragments of her palace are washed onto the shore.
Pieces that resemble tears are to be treasured as they are the tears of
Jurate.  Washed from her eyes, they are as clear and pure as the love
she lost.

+EMERALDS+

Vasuki and the Bile of Vala (India)
  Vala, a demon god was slain and dismembered by the demigods.  The 
parts of his body were scattered about the globe to create the gemstones
we know today.  The following story explains both the existence of 
emeralds and their distribution.
  The bile of the great demon Vala was taken from his torn body by the
serpent king, Vasuki.  In his exuberance he turned abruptly and split
the heavens in two with  one swipe of his mighty tail.  His long body,
head crowned with a hood of jewels, appeared like a bridge across the sky.
Garuda, the eagle king and carrier of Supreme Lord Vishnu, came flying
through the heavens encountering the serpent-god Vasuki.  Sworn enemy
of serpents, Garuda blocked Vasuki's path with his mightly claws.  
Frightened by this attack, Vasuki dropped Vala's bile to earth near
Mount Manikya.  This mountain was known for its beautiful forests and
fragrant trees. (It is said that this great mountain split, and as the
continents moved apart, it formed the mountain ranges of South America
and South Africa, an explanation for emeralds being found  in these two
locations).  The balance of Vala's bile fell to the land locked areas
beyond the Himalayas. (Probably modern day Afghanistan and Pakistan).
  The green bile was transformed into the seeds of emeralds, and 
wherever they fell, the great emerald mines formed.  Garuda picked up
some of the scattered seeds, but their power was so great that even he
was overcome with fainting spells.  As he swooned he scattered small
quantities of the seeds in many regions of the earth.  Most of the areas
where Vala's bile fell are lush and beautiful, but rugged and difficult
to access.


+PEARL+

 The Origin of Pearls and Their Virtues: India
     A story of the origin of the pearl is given in Indian Sanskrit 
texts.  Vala, a demon god, was slain and dismembered by the demigods. 
The parts of his body were strewn about the earth and universe to create
the various gemstones we know today.  The teeth of the great demon were
said to have been scattered throughout the celestial regions.  They fell
like stars into the oceans below and became the seeds for the various
species of pearls.  Possessing the luster of moonbeams, the seeds 
entered into the shells of oysters lying within the ocean depths and 
grew to be pearls.
    These same Vedic texts give extensive information concerning the
source of pearls and their varied powers.  Besides oyster pearls, seven
other types of pearls are listed; including those found in conch shells,
recovered from boar's heads, elephant heads, king cobra's hoods, bamboo
stems, clouds, and fish heads.
     Pearls from the cobra's hood are highly valued.  Anyone possessing
such a treasure attains piety, good fortune and, eventually becomes an
illustrious leader of men.  If a man obtains a snake pearl, he should 
have the rite of installation performed by a priest to ritually install
the gem into the owner's home.  This man shall never be troubled by 
snakes, demonic beings, diseases, or any form of disturbance.  
     Cloud pearls are considered to be a natural by-product of the sun
that can illuminate the sky in all directions and disel the darkness of
cloudy days.  A cloud pearl is considered so priceless that the entire
earth would not be equal in value.  Cloud pearls rarely reach the earth,
because they are usually taken away by demigods.  A man who possess a 
cloud pearl would bring good fortune to the entire earth, and no evil
could touch the land within 8000 miles of his birthplace.

+QUARTZ: rock-crystal+

 The Amazing Crystal Skull
     Without doubt the most impressive rock-crystal carving found to 
date is a Mayan artifact in the form of a 475.5 ounce piece, known as
the Mitchell-Hedges skull.  In 1927 F.A. Mithchell-Hedges was clearing
debris at the ancient Mayan city of Lubaantum, located in modern-day
Belize, when his daughter saw a bright object in the dust.  It was a 
beautifully cared and polished skull made of rock-crystal and missing
the jaw.  The jaw was located three months later in an excavation 
approximately twenty-five feet from the original find.
     The skull was fashioned from a single block of clear quartz and 
measured five inches high, seven inches long and five inches wide.  
THese dimensions make it nearly the same size as an actual human skull.
The detail has been called amazing, to the point that it could be  
identified as a rendering of a male skull, lacking the globular
prominence or superciliary ridges characterisc of femal craniums.
  The carving has been subjected to a series of tests, revealing a 
number of curious findings.  Conservator and restorer Frank Dorland was
given permission by the Mitchell-Hedges estate to test the skull in
cooperation with the Hewlett-Packard Laboratories in Santa Clara,
California.  A test of the sculpture's crystal sculpture showed that the
skull and jaw were carved from the same singe block.  Another amazing
find was that teh natural axis of the crystal had been disregarded by 
the carver(s).  The first thing modern crystal carvers do is determine
the axis of a crystal to prevent fracturing and chipping during the
cutting process.  It was found that the unknown artist(s) did not use
any metal tools or leave a single tool mark on the surface.  Most metals
would have little use in working with a stone that has a Mohs hardness
of seven.  
     Dorland determined tiny marks near the carved surfaces revealed the
use of diamond point chisels.  He further speculated that the finish was
achieved by successive grinding and polishing with silicon-crystal sand.
The problem then arises that if these were the methods used, Dorland
calculated a total of over 300 man-years of labor went into fashioning
the skull.  These facts mean that either this single carving was the
longest lasting artistic project in history or some lost technology was
employed by these ancient peoples.
     The puzzle of the skull does not end with its making. The zygomatic
arches (the bones extending across the brow) form light pipes which act
optically to channel light from the base of the skull to the eye sockets.
The eye sockets also act as miniature concave lenses to bring light
from the base into the upper cranium.  The interior of the piece  is a 
ribbon prism which serves to magnify and illuminate objects held beneath
it.  These various optical properties combine to bring about a dazzling
effect.  Placed over a light source, the entire skull becomes 
illuminated, and the skull "lights up lite it was on fire".
     Further analysis of the skull shows an early understand of weights
and balance.  The jaw fits precisely into two polished sockets that 
allow it to open and close.  The entire carving balances exactly where
two tiny holes are drilled into the base.  These openings undoubtedly
served as support points for the sculpture.  The entire arrangement is
so perfectly designed that the skull will nod up and down in the 
slightest breeze with the jaw opening and closing as a counter-weight.
The effect created is that of a living person, talking and carrying on a
conversation.
     Added to these measurable observations, many strange phenomena have
been reported that defy explanation.  It has been said that the skull
changed color.  The frontal lobe area clouds, while at other times it
appears perfectly clear.  A dark spot often develops on the right side 
and slowly blackens the entire skull in a matter of five to six minutes.
The skull then clears in as short a time as it took to darken.  Other 
observers have reported a glow surrounding the carving for as long as
six minutes, like an aura.  Ring noises have been heard coming from 
within the skull, odors have emanated, and reflections of buildings and
other objects have been seen in the eyes, despite the fact that the 
skull is resting against a dark background.  It also gives sensations of
heat and cold to the touch, even though it is kept at constand seventy
degrees Fahrenheit.
     Dorland has speculated that the crystal stimulates the opening of
a psychic door to undnown parts of the observer's brains.  He notes that
quartz gives off electrical vibrations which may interact with natural
brain waves, like radio waves or transmissions, a property which quartz
is know to exhibit.  Other writers have stated that the skull, in the
hands of a skilled mediatator and mental focalizer, may serve as a tool
to communicate to a higher mental plane, to amplify psychic and earth 
energy forces, and bring about healing in a person's mind or body.
     What ever the intended us, or possible future applications, it is
certain that the technology employed to create the rock crystal skull is
beyond that which we understand or expect to find in an ancient culture.
Future studies may yield answers but are hampered due to its 
inaccesablity.  It is now held in the possession of an anonymous private
collector.

+SPINEL+
   Spinel is found in a wide range of colors due to various impurities,
including deep-red, brownish-red, rose-red, carmine-red, orange blue,
blue-violet, purple, green, and black.  Pure spinel is colorless.

---===={MYTHICAL GEMS}====---

   The lore of gems inclues many "stones" that are not recognized by
modern gemologists.  These are generally classified as "mythical gems"
or "stones of imagined origin".  Many of these stones are said to have
been recovered from animals, both real and mythical.  It is generally 
accepted that some of these gems are in fact calcifications that are
common within the organs of many animals.  It is known that humans 
generate "stones" in various organs; gall stones and kidney stones are
two examples.  The same calcifications are found in many other mammals.
Pearls are examples of calcifications that are commonly harvested from
mollusks and revered fro their beauty.
     Other creatures carry stones within their systems.  Chickens and
other foraging birds often ingest small pebbles along with the insects
and grains they find on the ground.  It is also known that the digestive
systems of many animals generate coatings around foreign objects that
are swallowed and would otherwise casuse ulcerations or poisoning if 
left undigested.  Other creatures do not hold stones within their bodies
but may collect stones in the course of their daily routine.  ROdents and
birds both collect stones as objects they include in their nests.
     The stories of animals as a source of gems may have originated from
the disemboweling of animals as they were butchered.  Early people that
found gems in an animal's nest may have believed the animal generated
the stone.  Anceient scientists performing dissections may have 
struggled to explain hardened material found in the organs of their 
subjects.  The rarity of such discoveries must have added to their 
mystery.  From such occurrences myths arose that granted powers to these
unusual finds.  Some of the stones thought to be of magical origin are
now understood to be common natural occurrences.
     Some of the gems cataloged in ancient literature are truly obscure
and often carry names that add litle to our understanding of their
source.  Other stones are now recognized as commonly occurring hardened
growths or calcifcations.  Mythical gems have become the subject of
many authors and are even written of in contemporary texts on magic and
mysticism.  As recently as the nineteenth century, these stones were
included in gemology texts.  THe list given here is not intended to be
complete.  The names included are those   given by numerous authors 
throughout the centuries.

+AETITES or LAPIS AQUILARIS
    The aetites, lapis aquilaris, or eagle-stone is said to be found in
the nests of eagles.  It is believed to help eagles in reproduction.  
The famed gem engraver Dioscorides tells of the following use for the 
stone.  The aeities should be powdered  and mixed with flour to form
balls of dough the size of hens' eggs.  Persons suspected of theft are
brought to court and given one of the balls with a small drink.  The 
guilty among them will be unable to swallow the dough and will choke if
they try.  Seventeenth century medical texts list the aetites as a stone
that should be applied to pregnant women to prevent miscarriages.  Many
texts describe the stone as scarlet in color and able to protect the 
owners from harm as well as making them amiable, sober, and rich.  The
twentieth century gem scholar G.F. Kunz concludes aeitites were quartz
pebbles collected by the birds during nest construction.

+ALECTORIUS or ALLECTORY
     A gem said to be found in the gizzard of a capon was the alectorius.
The bird was to be sterile for at least three years before the clear
crystal could be harvested.  The gem is said to relieve any thirst of its
owner.

+ASPILATES
     A stone said to be found in the nests of Arabian birds is called the 
aspilates.  The attributes are usually given as being similar to those
of aetites.  It may be assumed that the reference to Arabian birds 
denotes where they are found and not their national origin.

+BEZOAR
     Bezoar, besuar, and beza are all terms used to refer to a potent
stone.  The name is derived from the Persian word pad-zahr or bad-zahr,
meaning counter-poison.  It is believed the stone is harvested from the
Cervicabra, a wild animal listed in various texts as a deer, goat, pig,
or monkey from Persia.  The consensus of most authors is that the 
animal is a wild goat.  Some writers say the stone is found in the
stomach, but most agree it is a kidney stone with a kernal center
surrounded by hardened layers.  They value of the stone increases with 
its size.  Medieval apothecaries soaked the stone in wine and administered
the resulting incture as an antidote for poisons.  Other prescriptions 
suggest grinding the stone to a powder and applying it directly to wounds,
particularly smallpox lesions.  Since such a stone is mostly calcium
carbonate, it works as an astringent to draw out infection.  Camillus
Leonardus speaks hightly of the stone in his "Speculum Lapidum":
	(Bezoar) is a red, dusty light, and brittle stone; by some it is
	described as of a citron colour.... All agree it obtains the 
	first place in remedies against poisons.... anything which frees
	the body of that ailment, is called Bezoar of the ailment
     A recipe to make "oriental bezoar" is innclued in the old "Meteria
Medica".  It calls for the mixing of equal parts white amber, red coral,
crab's eyes, powdered hartshorn, pearls and black crab's claws.  The
stone is also recommended as a cure for sorpion stings.  It is said to
be most effeective if the image of a scorpion is engraved on the stone,
this should be done when Scorpio is in ascendancy. 

+CABOT STONE or CIMEDIA
     A stone of prognostication that is found in a particular fish(the
species is never reveled), is the cabot stone.  It is said to be able to
forcast weather and is considered of great value to mariners.  It becomes
clear and shiny when the weather will be clear, and fogged if storms
are approaching.  Leonardus writes of a stone of similar attributes,
but calls it a cimedia.  He claims it, "is taken out of the brain of
a fish of the same name."

+CORVIA
    A stone recovered from the nest of a  crow and given great value is
called the corvia.  Leonardusgives an explanation of how the stone is
obtained and its supposed virtues:
	On the calend of April, boil the eggs taken out of a crow's nest
	until they are hard, and being cold, let them be placed in the
	nest, as they were before.  When the crow knows this, she flies
	a long way to find the stone, and returns with it to her nest,
	and the eggs being touched with it, they become fresh and 
	prolific.  The stone must immediately be snatched out of the 
	nest.  Its virtue is to increase riches, to bestow honours and
	fortell furure events.

+COCK-STONE
     A crystal formed stone found in a particular cock is called a 
cock-stone.  The test lkof which cock contains such a stone is found in
its eating habits.  A cock that never drinks as it eats, unlink most
fowl, is a likely candidate to contain a cock-stone.  This gem was 
revered by the Roman as a stone that could make the owner invisible. In
the Middle Ages the gem was said to keep the owner free of thirst.

+CRAB'S EYE
     The name crab's eye is a misnoer.  This gem is actually a calcium
carbonate deposit found in the abdomen of the crayfish.  An ancient
anonymous writer gives a good description of the stone:
	in the crayfish, just beneath the head near the stomach grow two
	small pea-sized stones which are in the shape of flattened 
	spheres hollowed out on one side and look rather like eyes.
	Nevertheless, this they are not since the creature has tow 
	perfectly good eyes in the usual place.  In Latin they are called
	"Lapides cancri", "Oculis cancri".  They ease out the teeth, dry 
	weeping sores, neutralize acidity, are good for sweetening 
	inverterate ulcers and blisters and for checking diarrhoea, 
	bleeding and vomiting.
    The crayfish is an animal of the planet Pluto and is used as a 
treatment for cancer.  A prescription from the old herbalist Brother
Aloysius consists of mashing living crayfish fwith garlic in an earthen
pot.  The resulting paste is applied to cancerous tumors and left in 
place for twenty-four hours while the patient is kept awake.  The 
disease is supposed to enter the crayfish paste and cure the cancer
patient.  It should be noted that the symbol for the zodiac sign, Cancer
the crab is often drawn resembling a crayfish rather than a crab.  The
crayfish in nature is known as an animal that removes unpleasant things
from its surroundings.

+DEMONIU
    A stone mentioned in various texts but never described is the 
demoniu.  This mysterious gem is said to make wearers invisible and keep
them safe from illness.

+DIADOCHUS
     Described as having the color of beryl, the diadochus is a gem of
value to conjurors.  it is said to give all answers to all questions
and display the images of devils if cast into water while a secret 
incantation is repeated.  The gem is used to disturb devils and is used
as a gem of exorcism.  held in the mouth, spirts from beyond are 
summoned.  The owner of such a gem is cautioned that its powers will
dissolve if it is touched to a dead body.

+DORIATIDES
     A gem retrieved ffrom the head of a cat, recently cut off in a 
swift manner, is known as the doriatides.  The stone is described as 
shiny and black withe the power to  grant any wish made by the owner.

+DRACONIUS
     Albertus Magnus described a black stone of pyramidal form called 
the draconius.  It comes from the East where it is harvested from the
heads of dragons.  The stone looses all its powers if the dragon has not
been recently killed.  Magnus states that the dragon must still be
panting while the stone is removed.  Leonardus describes the method of
capturing the dragon and extracting the stone:
	Some bod fellows, in those eastern parts, search out the dens of
	the dragons, and in them they throw grass mixed with soporiferous
	medicaments, which the dragons, when they return to their dens,
	eat, and are thrown into a sleep, and in that condition their
	heads are cut off, and the stone extracted.  It has a rare 
	virtue of absorbing all poisons, especially that of serpents. 
	It also renders the possessor bold and invincible, for which
	reason the kings of the East boast of having such a stone.

+ECHITES
     A stone that is most likely a form of geode or hallow concretion
is called echites.  The name is from the Greek root aetites and shares
its translation, eagle-stone.  These hallow forms contain loose crystal 
or pebbles that spill out when the stone is broken open.  This 
characteristic symbolizes eggs, fertility and birth.  The echites is
said to bring fertility and ease childbirth.

+ELOPSIDES
     Elopsides is a gem that cures headaches if suspended around the 
neck.  It is cataloged in early writings but without description.

+EPISTIDES
     A glittering red stone that exhibits many power is called the 
epistides.  The gem will keep one from all misfortunes if fastened over
the heart with "magic straps".  As the stone is placed on one's breast,
a proper incantation must be repeated.  The gem is said to take away
all misfortunes and drive away locusts, harmful birds, winds, and storms.

+EUMETIS
     The eumetis is a flint colored gem that allows one to speak
prophecies.  The stone must be placed under a pillow while the subject
sleeps for its powers to have effect.

+EXEBONOS
     Powdered and mixed with milk, the white exebonos stone is a cure 
for insomnia.

+FILATERIUS
     The filaterius is bright yellow green, like peridot.  it disperses
terrors and melancholy.  The gem also makes the wearer complaisent and 
comforted.

+FONGITES
     If one wishes to have all ailments cured and live without the 
distraction of anger, he or she should carry the red fongites in hand.

+GALACTIDES
     A powerful stone of magicians is called the galactides.  It allows
magical writings to be heard and brings ghosts to magicians to answer
any question asked.  The gem also stops quarrels, removes mischief and
brings lovers together.  If placed in the mouth, one is able to hear the
unspoken opinions of others.  To test the authenticity of the stone, it
is placed in the mouth and honey is smeared on the body.  If flies and
bees do not attack, the stone is genuine.

+GARGATES
     The gargates has many applications.  If the stone is rubbed, smoke
is generated which drives away all the devils as it dissolves their 
spells.  The stone also cures the stings of scorpions when powdered and
mixed with the bone marrow from a stag.  An addistional attribute is its
ability to tighten loose teeth.

+GASIDANA 
     Gasidana is a curious cream colored stone that has the ability to
reproduce itself it is shaken vigorously.

+GLOSOPETRA
     The glosopetra is a gem shaped like a human tongue.  It falls from
the heavens as the moon wanes.  Magicians claim it has the power to
change the movement of the moon.

+HAMONIS
     A gold colored stone from Ethiopia that is found in the shape of a
ram's horn is called a hamonis.  This is a sacred gem as it makes a man
divinely inspired if he allows himself to go into deep contemplation.

+HYENA STONE
     The hyena stone is found within the eye of a hyena.  The stone 
allows the owner to foretell the future if it is placed under the tongue.
It also cures bodily pains, cramps, and the gout.

+LIPPARES or LIPARIA
     The stone that is a protector of all animals is the lippares.  It is
found inside of a particular slug.  If an animal is being chased, it will
seek out this small white stone and become invisible to hunters.  Worn 
around the neck, it cures fevers in people.

+PEANITA
     The peanita is a geode stone, echites, or eagle-stone with foreign
pebbles or crystals said to be born when the encapsuling mother stone 
is broken.  The gem adds fertility and aides in child birth.

+QUIRINUS or QUIRUS
     The quirinus stone is harvested from the nest of the "hoopoe" bird.
Its single power is to cause a person to confess their wrongs if the
stone is placed on his or her chest while asleep.

+RAVEN STONE
     To make oneself invisible at will, a  raven stone found in New
Pomerania is carried.  Accounts of how the stone is obtained are of
interest.  One should look for a raven's nest and determin that the 
adult birds are at least one hundred years old (no record is found as to
how this is accomplished).  Then kill one of the nestlings, it must be
a male and no more than six weeks old.  Upon descending the tree, it 
will become invisible, mark the location carefully.  The adult raven
will return and place a stone in the mouth of the dead  chick.  This is
the raven stone which must be retrieved in a short period of time.

+SERPENT STONE 
     A gem is said to be found in the head of a serpent.  This serpent
stone appears in different pieces of literature from varous regions.  
The story of the ring of Gyges from Plato's Republic is supposed by
some to be an opal, but another author(Caeselii) states that the stone
was a serpent-stone of India.  In that land brilliant and beautiful 
stones were said to be found in the heads of serpents.  Set in silver
or gold at the time when the planetary or stellar control of the stone
is in ascendence, the wearer of the ring is sure to have the fullest 
possible benefits of its powers.  Indian legends say that these 
powerful reptiles are the guardians of diamonds, sapphires or glowing 
rubies.

+SWALLOW STONE 
     Two precous stones are gathered from a young swallow.  THese swallow
stones must be obtained from the stomaches of young birds that are still
in the nests.  The quality of the stone increases if the bird has never
touched the ground and if the gems are harvested in the month of August.
The mothers of the birds should not be present when the stones are 
gathered.  One of the stones is red and will work to restore sanity.
The other is black and works to bring good luck to the wearer.  Medicinally,
either stone prevents fevers and jaundice if tied around the neck with a
yellow linen thread.

+TOAD STONE or CHELONITES or CRAPAUDINA
     The gem with the greatest lore and tradition is the toadstone.  The
compostion and even the source of the gem is up for debate.  As the name
suggests, the stone is found in the head of a toad, however, some authors
maintain tha tit is not from a toad, but is actually a fossilized tooth
of a fish.  The attributes of the gem are varied and numerous.  It 
detects poisons by sweating and chaning colors in their presence.  It is
also listed as an efective cure for cancers and growths, particularly warts.
The idea that "like cures like" is an ancient tradition.  The people of
Surinam bidnd a dried toad to tumors to reduce their size.  The stone 
also is supposed to prevent houses from burning and prevent the sinking
of ships.  A risk is taken by miliatry commanders if they carry the
stone.  Tradition says the commander would either be assured of victory
in battles or all his men would fall dead on the spot.
     Gathering the stone is a ritual in itself.  Baptista Porta gives
the following method in his sixteenth century text:
	The stone Chelonites is found in the head of large old toads and
	is very curative if it can be taken from the living animal.  
	The toad is placed on a red cloth for the colour pleases it very
	much.  When it jumps,the stone falls out of its head and must 
	then drop through a hold in the cloth into a box that has been 
	set beneath it, otherwise the toad will swallow the stone.  
	There is not the slightest doubt about the value and operation
	of the stone, although I have never found one in spite of the
	many toads I have dissected.

+TORTOISE STONE
     Found in the brains of a tortoise is the tortoise stone.  It is the
enemy of fire and makes the wearer able to predict the future.  The stone
is to be placed in one's mouth at particular times to make its powers 
evident.  The time when the stone must be in the mouth is during the first
full day of a new moon and the succeeding fifteen days of lunar 
ascension.  The stone should be held orally from sunrise to six o'clock
in the morning of each of these days.

+VULTURE STONE
     Found in the bird's brain, the vulture stone gives the owner good
health and answers all his questions through vision in one's dreams.