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

14 GEMS.The Indians believe that a diamond taken withthem in their long journeys is a certain earnest of safereturn to the bosom of their families.*In the East, the ruby is a stone of good augury,provided it is never shown to friends ; it presages evilwhen it has a blackish spot, fThe same stone is given by the Chinese in token ofsincere friendship. JEven in the present day the Persians believe thatwearing the spinel causes joy and prevents evildreams.Not a few people, even in Europe, think it veryunlucky to receive the gift of an opal or to possess asapphire.One of the principal deities of the Peruvians Esmeraldahad a niche formed of an enormous emerald.||Now in speaking of the value of gems we mustmention a term known to and all, commonly used to"distinguish broadly the most precious stones theterm Oriental gems.In fact, the gems discovered in the East generallyexcel in beauty those found in the West.But the qualities by which precious stonesare distinguishedfrom each other, and which in a greaterdegree prevail in the Oriental, are, as we have alreadystated,* Feuchtwanger, p. 149. t Ibid. J Ibid.Ibid.(IIbid.