342 On the Combuftion of Dead Bodies 
no other fuel would probably be ever though 
ef. But at any rate it may be conjectured, that 
they would never ufe, for that purpofe, fuel 
fituated below the general level of the ground, 
whilft another could be procured, which, in 
its natural ftate, was confiderably above its furs 
face, and always endeavouring to afcend and ap- 
proach nearer to the fuperior or heavenly regions; 
being in that refpect typical of the expected afcent 
of the deceafed, as a reward for his trials and 
fufferings in this life ; whereas the ufe of the former 
would appear, to a fuperftitious people, ominous 
and adverfe to the fond expectations of his friends. 
- Befides, I believe there are no records of either peats 
or turf having been much, if at all, ufed by the 
Romans; and we are certain, that pit-coal did not 
come into ufe as fuel, till long after the period now 
treated of. 
Thus after a full inveftigation of the fubject, I 
think there is reafon to be decidedly of opinion, 
that the ancients muft generally (i. e. in cafes of 
Plebeians) have had recourfe to fome fuch apparatus 
as is here alluded to, of iron, or other metal, for 
confuming the dead, notwithftanding all remem- 
brance of it may have been loft, as well as of other 
matters of infinitely more importance to mankind. 
Laftly: When we confider, that a number of 
brafs and filver rings, and brafs points of arrows and 
fpears, evidently made by, or copied from the 
, Romans, 
