660 
Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 
He summarily disposes of the myth, that diamond cannot cut lead on 
account of the mercury in it. 
Euano having asserted that one Erancisco Tamara says that there 
are diamonds in Peru, Garcia replies that he does not know as to the 
truth of the statement, but adds that the same author tells fables 
about Indian diamonds. 
He says, for instance, that serpents keep watch over the diamonds, 
in order that no one should take them, but that if persons having^ 
diamonds in their hands throw down, at some distance away, meat 
prepared in a certain way, the serpents will eat it, and these persons 
may then take the diamonds at pleasure. It would be well if Trancisco 
de Tamara wished to relate fables that he would do so about his own 
Indies and not about ours." 
Garcia then contradicts statements by Pliny as to the occurrence of 
true diamonds in Arabia, Cyprus, and Macedonia — [The report as 
regards Arabia probably originated in diamonds from India being 
obtainable as merchandise in the marts of that country. The Cyprian 
and Macedonian stones were obviously not true diamonds] — after which 
come the following passages : — 
Ruano. It is said that all diamonds attract iron, and, what seems 
most strange to me, it is also said that the loadstone will not attract 
iron when the diamond is near. 
Osta. This about the diamond attracting iron you would see was 
wrong if you tried the experiment, and the notion that the loadstone 
will not attract iron when the diamond is near is quite without found- 
ation. I have tried the experiment before many people, both with 
diamonds of the old rock " and diamonds of the new rock," and if 
you desire it I will try it before you. It is not unreasonable that the 
other properties ascribed to this stone may be true. Por it is right 
that the stone which God created to be so invincible should have the 
properties they mention, although the saying that if it be placed under 
the head of a sleeping woman without her knowing it she will on 
awaking embrace her husband if he be faithful, but fly from him 
if he be not. I cannot believe, although I am told that authors of re- 
pute state it as a fact, because the same property has been ascribed 
to certain herbs, which we know to be mere superstition. But one thing 
I will tell you, which I have seen in very fine diamonds of the old 
rock," and that is, that when rubbed together they will adhere, and in 
such a manner as not to come apart. The diamond when heated will 
also, as I have seen, lift up a piece of straw like amber. These things 
