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Thank you to Christie Eckard who told us about the following article that appeared in the gulfnews.com:

Riyadh: A large number of Saudis as well as expatriates are flocking to markets in various Saudi cities to take possession of Singer sewing machines after rumours gained momentum that they contain the rare red mercury substance.

This resulted in skyrocketing prices of the machine across the Kingdom, from the normal rate of SR100 up to SR150,000.

Despite repeated warnings from the Saudi authorities against believing such rumours, which started circulating two weeks ago via the internet, people rushed to grab the machines, resulting in traffic congestion in some of the streets in Riyadh and other cities in the Kingdom.

Security forces swung into action to disperse the crowds who gathered to buy Singer machines at any price.

The rumours gained momentum in the Kingdom after they spread in the neighbouring countries of Egypt and Jordan.

Major General Mansour Al Turki, spokesman for the Ministry of Interior, described the rumours "as false and deceptive." Police officials said the rumours were started by gangs attempting to swindle people out of their money, and denied the existence of red mercury in the sewing machines.

As trading in the sewing machines was intense in many cities, police were present at all market places to monitor sales and ensure that no sewing machines were sold for more than their true price.

During a tour of Riyadh's Deera market, a Gulf News correspondent saw that there was a huge demand for even old Singer sewing machines. Many people are flocking to the shops for the repair and sale of old sewing machines, which carry the emblem of Singer with the picture of a lion.

Naif Al Mutairi, one of the customers, said that there was a heavy rush to possess the old Singer machines manufactured during the period between 1879 and 1900, and those with the numbers of 22, 28 and 29, which are hand-made. "It is believed that the old machines contained the so-called red mercury substance more than the new models," he said, adding that the prices shot up from SR8,000 to SR150,000.

A salesman in the market told Gulf News that red mercury is a very rare substance, and its price ranges between $100,000 and $300,000 per kilogram.

Those who purportedly sell or buy red mercury are rarely in agreement as to the exact nature or even colour of the substance, while the uses for it vary from it being an essential ingredient to nuclear power, to having the ability to summon Jinns, extract gold and locate buried treasure, and perform other types of magic. No proof of the substance's existence has ever been found, scientists say, and many believe it to be the result of a hoax.

Meanwhile, Saudi writer Ali Saad Al Mousa rejected the red mercury stories as unfounded and baseless. He compared this to an old rumour pertaining to the urine of camel that resulted in skyrocketing its prices up to SR1,000 per litre.