ANALYSIS OF LITIIOMARGE. i6< 



n. Of the Lcm n la n Ea rth. 



FROM the ifland of Lcmnos in the Egcan Tea, 

 \vhcrcthiscarth was firft difcovercd, it has ob- 

 tained its name ; and which, though the ifland 

 is now called Stalimcnc, it Hill retains. It was 

 called Sigi/fum Cnpritium (rr^y/f >of ) ; for when 

 taken out from the ground, the pricfls of Ve- 

 nus, in the time of Diolcorides, ufcd to mix it 

 with the blood of a goat, and moulding it into 

 fcvcral pieces, ftamped upon each the figure of 

 that animal. Thefe rites were abolifhcd while 

 Galen lived ; but others equally abfurd and ri- 

 diculous fuccccdcd to them. When Bdlonius 

 vifitcd the illand, it was the praclicc to open 

 the vein annually on the 6th of Auguft; and, 

 after prayers faid by the priciii, as much of the 

 earth was taken out as was thought fuflicicnt 

 for the enfuing year: The entrance to the vein 

 was then clofed, and the inhabitants threaten- 

 ed with the hcavicft punifhmcnts, if they mould 

 venture to open it. The greateft part of the 

 earth obtained in this manner was fent to Con- 

 flantinople to receive the feal of the Emperor; 

 and from this circumftancc it has often been 

 named Terra Turcica. The remainder was fold 

 by the governor of the illand, cither in its rude 

 ftarc, or ilamped with his feal. From tbc time 

 of Homer and Hcfiod this earth was held in fuch 

 L eftinvatiun, 



