294 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 
set in the centre of the foot of the beautiful ‘‘ Ardagh Chalice,’’ where 
it is surrounded by settings of amber and filagree work; this part of 
the cup was highly ornamented, because, when not in use, the vessel 
would be placed in an inyerted position. I refer for a full description 
of the chalice to the Earl of Dunraven’s Paper, contained in vol. xxiv., 
of the Royal Irish Academy’s Transactions, and to the coloured illustra- 
tions which accompany the Paper. 
In the Cathach of the O’Donnells there is a half-sphere, four com- 
pressed boat-shaped crystals, and one empty cavity, from which the 
stone has dropped out. 
On the cover of the Stowe Missal there is a boat-shaped crystal of 
large size, and two oval crystals of smaller magnitude. In the shrine 
of the Fiacul, or Tooth of St. Patrick, there is inserted a section of a 
sphere. 
Besides those mentioned we possess several interesting reliquaries, of 
different sizes and classes of workmanship, the ornamentation usually 
consisting of silver setting, decorated with the characteristic boat-shaped 
crystals. It has been suggested that this special shape is symbolic of the 
“‘Vesica,’’ but Ido not purpose at present to consider the cabochon erys- 
tals, and therefore abstain from discussing the possible religious idea so 
conveyed. Suffice it to say that one of these reliquaries of early age 
is surmounted by a crucifix of archaic design, probably belonging to the 
14th century, and would itself deserve a careful investigation. In 
another reliquary a rude uncut crystal of Irish diamond replaces the 
polished stone ; and in another still we find the crystal imitated by a 
setting of ordinary glass. To avoid any error, let me here state that I 
have not examined these boat-shaped crystals with a view to determine 
their location as mimerals; some may be of Irish manufacture, others 
made in early ages on the Continent, where rock crystal has long been 
fabricated into elaborate works of art; but I believe the sections of 
true spheres, like the crystal balls, will be found to belong to the East 
essentially. 
The veneration in which rock crystal spheres were held will account 
for their forming portions of regalia; and in Ireland, as well as Scot- 
land, certain families have preserved them for ages; and the Irish 
peasant and farmer have sought their assistance to ward off and cure 
disease—especially when attacking the cattle. 
No. 12 is a good illustration of such a sphere, celebrated for its 
medicinal and magical powers. It is in the possession of the Marquis 
of Waterford, and the tradition regarding its ancient history is that it 
was brought from the Holy Land by one of his Le Poer ancestors 
during the period of the Crusades. The curative properties of this sphere 
were eagerly sought after even for remote districts, in order that when 
placed in a running stream they might drive the cattle backwards and 
forwards through the water, by which means a cure was said to be 
obtained, or threatened disease could be warded off ; or simpler still, the 
cattle drank from water in which the ball was immersed. 
The property of foretelling events by the assistance of these crystal 
