in Syria, Phoenice ^c. 52? 



making fuch iifeful Encroachments upon the Sea, at the fame 

 Time we muft have the iitmoft Contempt for the later Mafters 

 of them , who out of Avarice, Idlenefs, and want of pubhck 

 Spirit, have fuffered them to become either altogether ufelefs, 

 or elfe of very little Service to the Trade and Navigation of 

 this rich and plentiful Country. 



About two Furlongs to the Northward of the City, near^^^^'-'^/sar- 

 the Sea Shore, there are feveral Sarcophagi, fome of which c#«^^'o/'^ 

 have preferved their Covers. They are generally of the fame """' 

 Shape, though larger than thofe that are commonly found in 

 Italy, being adorned, in like Manner, with feveral beautiful De- 

 corations in Shells and Foliage, or elfe with Bufts of Men and 

 Women, Ox-Heads and Satyr s\ befides others that are pannelfd, 

 having moreover their Covers fupported by Pilafters of the 

 Ionic and Corinthian Orders. 



The rocky Ground where we find thefe Sarcophagi, is hollow- Cryprar, or 

 ed below into a Number of Crypt ce or Sepulchral Chambers, cww. 

 fome of which were ten, others twenty or thirty Foot fquare; 

 but the Height doth not anfwer in Proportion. The Defcent 

 into them is fo artfully contrived, that the ingenious Architedl 

 hath left upon the Front and Side Walls of each Stair Cafe, fe- 

 veral curious Defigns in Sculpture and Baffo Relievo, like thofe 

 the Sarcophagi are charged with. A Range of narrow Cells^ 

 wide enough to receive one of thefe Sarcophagi , and long 

 enough for two or three, runs along the Sides of moft of thefe 

 Sepulchral Chambers, and appear to be the only Provilion that 

 has been made for the Reception of the Dead. 



The Greeks have one of thefe Crypta iii great Efteem and ne crypta 

 Veneration. They call It St. Teckla, in Commemoration q^''^^^-"^^'^^^^- 

 fome A6ls of Pennance- and Mortification that are faid to have 

 been performed by that firft Virgin Martyr in this Place. In 

 the Middle of It there is a Fountain , fuppofed to be inftru- 

 mental in producing miraculousVifions, and extraordinaryCures. 

 For hither they conftantly bring fuch Perfons or Children, 

 as have the Rickets, Jaundice, or other Diftempers ; and after 

 having tranfafted feveral Ceremonies, by wafliing them in Holy 

 Water and perfuming them, they return with a ftrong Faith 

 in the fpeedy Cure of the difeafed. Here likewife the aged 

 and decrepid pretend to receive the Warnings of their approach- 

 ing Deaths; whilft the young forefee a long Train of Circum- 



M m m m X ftances 



