found at two miles diftance from the Lougb^ feldbm 
further, in great numbers , and very deep in the ground; 
now for what ufe and reafon they ftiould be brought 
thither I can't imagine: but bccaufe there may lie 
exceptions againft this reafon I Ihall produce another, 
which I believe will plainly prove this aflertion, it being 
matter of fad:. The Gentleman on whole credit 1 re- 
ceived this information, had occafion one day to furvey 
a part of his own land, and at a fmall diftance from the 
Lough, he faw a ftump of a tree juft digged out of the 
ground, which by handling of it he found petrified ; his 
Servant that digged it up, ftanding by him, told him he 
had juft rooted it out of the ground : he affured me the 
roots and all were ftone, and altogether like thofe ftones 
that are ordinarily found and go by tiie name of Lough- 
Neagh ^ovits. This certainly proves the foil to have 
this petrifying Vertue, which was never yet proved of the 
water. This Gentleman was of opinion theie were La- 
pides Jui generis, 'till this^obfervation convinced him: and 
rbelieve the wood, which I before m^entioned that was 
found by the Fifhermcn fetrified, ows its petrification to 
the foil and not to the water. But that thefe ftonss were 
once wood is r think very certain, for they (hew the plain, 
vejiigia of wood, theylikewife burn, cleave; filings of 
this ftonc thrown in the fire emitt a fragrant fmell : the.y 
cut kindly with a knife, though not fo eafily, as oth^t 
wood : but had they none of thefe properties, the in- 
ftance now alledged, I think, is as convincing as Demoii'^ 
"ftration, \. . 
