that Charlemagne set himself to question Roland, and thus soon learned how it had been obtained. In reward for his bravery in this encounter Roland was knighted and allowed to take his place among the paladins of the Emperor. Nor was it long before he further distinguished himself, becoming to his father’s delight the most renowned among all that famous company.” The Irish Charm stones used to charm away vermin, are about one inch in thickness and about four inches long. The Australian natives carried magical stones which could never be seen by women. Certain stones known as Dendrites exhibit markings which take the _form of trees_, grass, moss, etc. (see Moss Agate). The ancients considered them fortunate for prosperity in farming and in general affairs of life. Brigadier General Kenneth Mackay mentions in his book, “Across Papua,” various carved stones which were employed by the natives as garden charms. CHAPTER IX STONES AND THEIR STORIES ABRAXAS STONES. These were stones used by the Gnostics or Knowers who existed in the early ages of Christianity. “Amongst this Christian philosophic sect,” writes King, “the figure of Abraxas was held in high esteem. They used it as a teacher in obedience to whom they directed their own peculiar transcendental inquiries and mystic doctrines: as a token or password amongst the initiated to show that they belonged to the same sect: as an amulet and talisman: and lastly as a seal for their documents.” The figure of Abraxas was composed as follows: Cock’s Head, Human Body, legs formed like serpents. In one hand he holds the whip of power, in the other the shield of wisdom. These are the five mystical emanations symbolically expressed—the Sun, the Inward Feelings, Awakened Understanding, Dynamis (Force), Sophia (Wisdom). Basilides, the Egyptian who is supposed to have founded the sect, is criticized in the writings of Augustine because he “pretended the number of the Heavens to be 365, the number of days in the year.” Hence he glorified a “sacred name” as it were, namely the word ABRAXAS, the letters in which name, according to the Greek methods of enumeration, make up that number. The principal Abraxas stones were of Jasper, Plasma, Sard, Loadstone and Chalcedony. ALECTORIUS. The Alectorius or as Camillus Leonardus has it, the ALECTORIA, is said to be a stone never bigger than a large bean, which stone is taken from a cock. When this stone becomes perfect, says Leonardus, the bird will not drink.