Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-26
TAL|SMAN EN- ERAL D
Guarded With Reverence by
Indians Of 0ajaca.
SEEN BY A WOMAN
WHO WAS THE FIRST FOREIGNER
TO TOUCH THE GEM.
What Gratitude Did for an American
President Diaz Could Not
Succeed In.
Written fer The Evening Star.

Written fer The Evening Star.
For years-ever since Mexico was opened
TO the white man-every traveller to that
romantic land has heard of the emerald of
Oajaca. Rumor said that it was huge al
most beyond belief. Whatever it's size it
was certain that the Indians believed in its
magic properties No white man ever saw
it, but now an American woman has sue
ceeded through a sister woman's gratitude,
where men found failure.
This emerald of Oajaca has for ages been
the object Of covetous interest on the part
OF Spanish viceroys Mexican presidents
and provincial governors. Great dealers in
precious stones have sought it, too, but the
Indians, as the lineal descendants of the
Aztecs, to whom the emerald is supposed
to have originally belonged, hold it in su-
perstitous reverence and such safe keep
ing that until recent years little but uncon-
frmed legends of the stones existence was
known.
A few years ago President Diaz became
so interested in the matter that he decided
to prove the truth or falacy OF the reports
of this emerads size and value. Without
warning he suddenly appeared in the vii
lage where it was said the gem was Sc
creted. He summoned the people into the
plaza and announced that if they would
show him the emerald known to be in their
possession he would in return proclaim a
public holiday and entertain them with a
pista at his own expense. He promised,
president, and by virtue of the same blood
in his and their veins, that if they would
accede to his request he would not attempt
to take the emerald from them. Upon this
a prolonged consultation ensued among the
Indians, the result of which was that from
afar off In the crowd one OF them held up
at arms length between his forefinger and
thumb the famous emerald, scintilating in
the rays of the sun. DiaZ was DESTROYS of
a closer inspection, and, turning to his
guards, ordered the man to be brought to
him. His actions, if not his words, were
at once considered by the Indians to be sus-
picious. So they promptly raised tumult
and amid shouts of Viva Porfirio- DiaZ,"
Viva la fiesta the man and the emerald
disappeared, and this was the only glimpse
the powerful president was able TO obtain
of it.
She Really Saw It.
An American woman had better fortune.
1t happened that her husband was APP
pointed to superintend the medical depart
ment of the railroad being built through
Oajaca. and incidentally saved the life of
an Indian woman. In her grat itude this
woman begged to be allowed to make some
recompense, as the American doctor had
refused to accept a fee.
But half in jest he replied that If she
would show him the Oajaca emerald he
would be satisfied. AT this the woman
seemed greatly disturbed. She at first de-
clared she knew nothing about it, but on
being pressed further by the doctors
wife she admitted knowing where it was
hidden. Finally she agreed that if the doc
tor would solemnly promise to absent him
self she would obtain the stone and show it
to his wife For some unexplained reason
she held Steadfastly to this point that
the wife must be alone when the emerald
was produced that it was yielded though
much to the doctors disappointment
SO one morning shortly after the Indian
rod a hn nh iri M
rary residence. She made sure that the
doctors wife and herself We're alone; then
she produced the emerald from fold of her
clothing. For about a minute only was the
doctors wife permitted to inspect the gem,
while it was held securely in the Indian
woman's fingers. In size according to the
fortunate visitors account, the stone is as
large as a pigeons egg, crudely polished,
and of a rich grass green color. In its
depths she noticed few black spots or
flaws. which goes far to prove that it is
genuine emerald and not volcanic glass, as
has been suggested. The pureSt emeralds
are seldom without flaws, this being one of
the tests taken into account by experts.
The Tribe Talisman
In great haste the Indian woman again
secreted the gem and went out; but one
curious circumstance the doctor and his
wife remarked subsequently. During the
remainder of their stay in the village.
though they met the woman several times
neither by word or sign would she recog-
Mise their previous relations. She treated
them as absolute strangers. To her mind
the risk she had run in showing the tails
man of her tribe was full compensation for
the service rendered. The general belief is
that the stone is not secreted in any place
but is concealed on the person of one of the
Indians and passed on as circumstances
may require. If such is the case the woman
must have obtained the gem by stealth, and
during the time it was in her possession she
was doubtless n no little danger of her life