232 CORALS 



different species has been found in abundance in certain 

 waters off the coast of Japan, and, although this coral is some- 

 times red and is always of the same hard texture as the 

 Mediterranean red coral, so that it can be and is used for 

 ornamental purposes, the evidence seems to be quite con- 

 clusive that it was not exported from Japan until quite 

 recent times. 



There can be little doubt, therefore, that the early trade 

 in red coral began in the Mediterranean Sea, and in all 

 probability in the western part of it, and that it spread from 

 there to the distant parts of the world, where it was prized 

 by the natives. 



From the earliest times of which we have any record, 

 red coral was supposed to possess certain magical properties, 

 and was used not only for ornamental and decorative pur- 

 poses but to ward off evils of various kinds, to still tempests, 

 and to cure diseases. 



The mythical origin of red coral is related in a poem by 

 Orpheus of Thrace and by Ovid,^ and may be briefly stated 

 as follows. 



When Perseus cut off the head of the Medusa and cast it 

 on the sea-shore, the water-nymphs threw small branches of 

 seaweed at it just for the fun of seeing them turn into stone. 

 The seeds of these twigs when returned to the water gave 

 rise to the coral, which even to this day turns into stone when 

 it comes in contact with the air, although it is soft so long as 

 it is still submerged. 



Minerva was so pleased with the exploit of her brother 

 that she conferred upon coral a number of the most extra- 

 ordinary virtues. 



She next endowed the plant with virtue strange 



And to its kind a lasting influence lent 



To guard mankind on toilsome journeys bent, 



1 Ovid, Metam. iv. 747-753 : 



At pelagi nymphae factum mirabile temptant 

 Pluribus in virgis, et idem contingere gaudent, 

 Seminaque ex illis iterant iactata per undas. 

 Nunc quoque curaliis eadem natura remansit, 

 Duritiam tacto capiant ut ab aere, quodque 

 Vimen in aequore erat, fiat super aequora saxum. 



