C 253 J 



CHAP. XVI. 



Containing, I. The hiftory of the Heflian Py- 

 rites, called Terra martis Hajfiaca. Commu- 

 nicated by M. Rofinus. 



CI RE AT Almerode, a confiderable village in 

 J Lower Heffe, three miles fromCafTel, and five 

 hours ride from Munden, lies in a very mountain- 

 ous, and almoft the highefl part of HefTe, and is 

 encompaffed on every fide, partly with very tall 

 forefts, partly with very high mountains, among 

 which laft the WeifTner and Herfs, or more pro- 

 perly Hirfchberg, are the principal. The WeifTner, 

 which is the higheft in all that country, rifes near 

 the village of Ludenbach, an hour's ride from Great 

 Almerode, and contains a large inexhauftible (tore 

 of ftone- coals, which are there dug in two diffe- 

 rent places, and conveyed to Altendorff for boil- 

 ing fait : befides, on its top, which is quite a 

 plain, a mile in compafs, many peculiar herb* 

 grow, not readily to be met with elfewhere, alfo 

 good pafture-grafs. The Hirfchberg, which is 

 clofe by Almerode, abounds much with bitumin- 

 ous foflile wood, or wood-coals, as they are cal- 

 led, alfo with plenty of good bituminous alum- 

 ore, for which two alum huts are built at its foot. 

 The ruggednefs of the country, and inclemency of 

 the weather, thence arifing, prove prejudicial both 

 to the agriculture and horticulture about Alme- 

 rode, the garden-fruits arriving very late there to 

 their perfeftion and maturity ♦, as I once remem- 

 ber 

 A a 



