Vol.111. MifcelUmaCurioJa. ^99 



This is the true notion of the PntkuU^ 

 holes dug perpendicularly in the Ground to 

 throw Bodies indifferently and without any 

 decency in and according to the Argu- 

 ment this ought to be the conduft of the An- 

 cient Romans^ with Refpeft to their Slaves, 

 as implying fimplicity and the care to avoid 

 a greater expence but then what's all this 

 to the Galleries and Chambers of the Cata* 

 combs, where decency and diftinftion of 

 quality is nicely obferv'd ; and that^ if they 

 were look'd after, and kept in better repair, 

 would be without difpute the nobleft Burying- 

 place this Day in the World? ^ As often as 

 they fall under my confideration, I cannot 

 forbear thinking they were made for this end 

 by the Ancient Romans^ and made in confe- 

 quence of thefe two Ancient opinions, that 

 the fhadbws hate the light, and love to hover 

 about the place where the Bodies are laid,they 

 appear fb eafie and decent a refting-place for 

 the one, without the leafl: fear of being ever 

 difturb'd, and at the fame time there is pro- 

 vided a noble and a vaft convenience full of 

 variety for the others, to fpace themfelves 

 freely and with pleafure in. 



I think'twill not be denied, that laying up the 

 Bodies in Caves was the original way of dif- 

 pofing of the dead v this was that of the 

 M^amcianSy and as they were the Men that 

 •with their Colonies peopled the Weftern parts 

 of the World, 'tis more than probable they 

 carried it along with them whither foever 

 :they went. AfterWv^rds, as Men grew great 

 and powerful, they ereded noble and mag- 

 nificent Monuments for themfelves above 

 I - ground ; 



