called, by the Arabs, Ras Sem. is 



would rather occafion in them an immediate Diilblution or 

 Putrefadion, than that they lliould be converted into Stone. 



Let us examine then the Hiftories of thofe Bodies, that are The prc- 

 pretended to lye, in this Manner, in a Variety of Pofturcs andftanccs of 

 Attitudes, open and expofed ; fuch, as are related of Lo/'s Bed Bodies 

 Wife; of the Horde in Tartar/ \ of the Groupes in Teru and 

 at Ras Sem ; of Niol;e alfo, and the extraordinary Petrifica- 

 tions occalioned by the Gorgon's Head. Now the two laft of Jl^^'i ^cories 



•^ " of Niobe and 



thefe Accounts have always been looked upon as fabulous ' andl'i'' 9'"'^''/^ 



xTiCflQ » 2.116" 



allegorical ; and, as fuch, will make nothing at all in Proof of §"""'• 

 the real Exiftence of fuch Tranfmutations. Nay, provided That of Lot's 



. Wife either 



the firft ' is to be underftood, according to the literal Senfe,aikgoncaior 

 for a real Tranfmutation ; yet it will, by no means, fupport 

 the Credibility of the other alledged Inftances, at Tartary^ 

 Tern and Ras Sem \ unlefs their Hiftories. were as well attefted^ 

 and we had the like infallible Proof and Teftimony of their 

 being miraculous. 



With Regard then to the Tartarian Groupe ; (the fole In- The Tarta- 

 vention, as it appears to have been, of Antho7iy Jenhinfon ;) acTounted^^ 

 a Number of independent Rocks, in different Heights, and ferentiS?fi^i- 

 of various Colours and Figures; or elfe the conftituent Stones '^'''^ '^°"^^* 

 of fome ancient, civil or religious, Inclofure, by being viewed 

 at a Diftance, without a nearer and ftridler Examination; 

 thefe, I prefume, might give Occafion for fuch a Report at 

 firft ; which few Perfons afterwards, could have, or would 

 take an Opportunity, either to examine or contradid. We The Rocks 

 find, much nearer Home, the like romantick Interpretation ro/#Downt, 

 to have been put upon the Rocks in Marlborough Downs ; which, thers. 

 fromlome fmall Relemblance they bear to a Flock of Sheep, 

 are called, to this Day, the Marlborough Weathers. In like Roiirhh 

 manner, the Rollrich Stones in Oxford poire '; the Weddings ^oi^Ttohwl 



been Men, 

 converted 



1 Vid. Nat. Com. \.6. cap. ij. & 1. 7. cap. 11, 12. intoStonc. 



2 Fatabltis, Boditius &c. take this in a metaphorical Scnfe ; viz.. for a perpetual Silence 

 in her Mourning ; and that (he became not a Pillar of Salt, but ^ a Pillar of Salt. In the 

 fame Manner it js oblerved oi Nabal, that after ^W^^i/ had made him fenfible of the Faulc 

 he had committed, iSam.2.^. i?. his Heart died %t/ithin him, and he became M a Stone. 

 Thus again the Particle as is to be fupplyed, where Dan is faid to be a Lions Whelp. Deut. 

 33. 22. Ifachar 10 be a jircng Afs. Gen. 49. 14. IJJ.im.iel J]}all be a wild Afs's Man. Gen, 

 16. 12. and in a Variety of other Inftances. 



3 Vaftos Lapides in orbcm difpofitos, quoi Rollrich Stones \u\qus appellhzt, Iiominefquc 

 olim fuilTe, qui in Saxa ftupcnda Metamorphofi rigucrunt, fomniat. Cavibd. Britan. ia 

 Oxfordfiire. 



D 1 , in 



