Gems Notes and Extracts Augusto Castellani, Mrs. John Brogden 1871

198 GEMS.us that this gem is found principallymountains called SheJcinim.in certainOne of the finest balais known was in possession ofthe King of Oude. On it was engravedthe name ofone Julal-u-din, and from this it took the name atcourt of Lal-i-ja 1 adi.It was the size of a walnut, andvery brilliant.In the middle ages it was thought that the balaisand the red corundum had certain occult and supernaturalvirtues. Eliano relates how a stork, havingbroken a leg, was cured by an old woman namedEraclide; he afterwards flew away, and returning,placed in her bosom a very fine balais which he carriedin his bill, and gave to her as a token of gratitude.The balais is easily cut on the wheel, as already remarked;and I have seen many of them engraved, butnone that I could, with certainty, say were of antiqueworkmanship.LXXXVII.SARD.SARD is that stone which is generally called sardonica,to distinguish it from sard-onyx,speak presently.The sard, then, calling itof which we shallby the name bestowed onitby the Eomans, is an agate- quartz of a dark colour,between red and yellow.Consisting of the same components as the carnelian,it only differs from it in colour and fineness of texture.