The Medicine Indians of South America say that a holy spirit is in the
crystal, and for this reason the sacred stones must not be seen except
by initiates. The aboriginals of Australia and Tasmania regarded the
crystal in a mystic way. It was known by the Murray tribes as Katto and
Maako. The South Australians generally termed large crystals Kanwenmuka,
and smaller specimens Kanyappa. It is the Teyl of the West Australian,
the Leeka and Heka of the Tasmanian and it is called Tendeagh by the
East tribe and Mughramallee by the South. The late Mr. James Bonwick
says that the natives usually wore the crystal in its bag, suspended
from the neck; he gives their song of magic as follows:
Kano Kano wimmari (lizard)
Kano Kano Kanwemuka (crystal)
Kano Kano Makkitya (flint)
Kano yeruka Makkitya
Makkitya mulyeria.
[Illustration: Gazing Crystal on Dragon Stand. Presented to the Author
by the Late Judge Casey of Victoria, Australia.]
Mr. Bonwick also gives instances of the prevalence of Crystallomancy
amongst the aboriginals, the use of the Rain Stone, the Coradgee Stone
which was wrapped in hair and was not to be seen by a female, “not
always a simple white stone, it was more commonly a quartz crystal.” He
says further “Some men, by proper use of this magical agency (the
crystal) could work wonders.” Thus, the crystal has been employed by
savage and civilized man in all ages. It was said to enclose within its
bright form all the knowledge and secrets that have ever been; if worn
during sleep it banishes evil dreams and spells, and guards the wearer
against sorcery, witchcraft, secret enemies and evil thoughts. It was
said to indicate the presence of poison by clouding or by breaking—hence
its employment in the manufacture of precious goblets by the ancients.
It was employed as a preventive of watery, wasting and infectious
diseases, tumourous complaints, blood impurities, heart, bowel and feet
troubles, renal affections, etc. Pliny recommends it as an external
medicine for women when in the form of fine powder mixed with honey.
With regard to the employment of crystal balls and lenses for medical
purposes, this venerable author says: “I find it asserted by physicians
that when any part of the body requires to be cauterized it cannot be
better done than by means of a crystal ball held against the sun’s
rays”; it is interesting to compare this statement with a more recent
one made by the late Dr. E. D. Babbitt, M.D.:
“Sunlight can lubricate and even vesicate the skin without causing much
pain or without leaving any permanent scars like those formed by
sinapisms, moxas, lancings, etc. Many a tumour which under the old
system is cut out without even reaching the cause, is destroyed by
concentrating the light upon it through a convex lens.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account