Note 31 — HISTORY OF KHWAJAH HASAN AL-HABBAL.[21]
Richard Francis Burton translation
These stones, especially the carbuncle, which give out light in darkness are a commonplace of Eastern folk-lore. For luminous jewels in folk-lore, see Mr. Clouston (i. 412.): the belief is not wholly extinct in England, and I have often heard of it in the Brazil and upon the African Gaboon. It appears to me that there may be a basis of fact to this fancy, the abnormal effect of precious stones upon mesmeric “sensitives.”