1878. ] Diamonds. 421 
diamond. Pliny had a very thorough appreciation of its hardness, 
and repeats the fable then current, with reference thereto. He 
states that an adamas laid upon a new anvil, and struck with a 
new hammer, will shiver both, while the gem remains intact. 
Only by sprinkling it with the fresh blood of a male goat, can the 
excessive hardness be conquered. When the adamas is thus 
broken, however, it is shattered into innumerable small fragments 
so minute, indeed, that they can scarcely be seen with the naked 
eye. Bishop Albertus Magnus, of Southern Germany, in 1260, re- 
peats the same statement, and sententiously adds, that the blood 
of the animal became far more efficacious, if he had imbibed sour 
wine and eaten some parsley just before being killed. 
Owing to the rarity of the mineral this fable could be per- 
petuated for more than 1400 years, in countries far removed from 
those where the diamond was originally found. 
After expressing his surprise that so disagreeable an animal as 
the goat should have so great a power over this most precious 
Stone, Pliny states, that small splinters of diamond are set in iron 
holders, and used for the purposes of engraving and drilling. This 
shows a remarkable coincidence with the utterances of Jeremiah 
more than 600 years earlier. 
At the time of Charles the Great (768 to 814) diamonds were 
highly prized as ornaments, and ever since that time they have 
steadily advanced in demand until the present day. During the 
reign of Louis XIV, in France, diamonds were much sought after, 
and some were brought to light that are famous for their beauty 
even now. Having at that time made an enormous stride in the 
favor of all people admiring mineral ornaments, diamonds have 
since then maintained their position. To-day they are a staple 
article in the market, and although new discoveries may some- 
what affect their value, the demand is sufficiently great and con- 
stant to render them one of the most valuable among the precious 
stones. 
Of all the countries which have furnished diamonds, India has 
been known as a prolific source for the longest period of tite. 
Perhaps the most famous of all diamond fields there are the Gol- 
conda Mines. Thousands of people have found and many still do 
find employment there, although much of the wealth has already 
been exhausted. During the reign of Louis XIV, Tavernier 
visited the Orient to collect diamonds and precious stones for his o 
