[ x 39 ] 
than I have already fcribbled. Let it fuffice them 
that there are many bafkets and cafes full of one thing 
and another, all jumbled together ; fuch as kitchen 
utenlils, locks, bolts, rings, hinges, and all of brafs. 
Things, that were of iron, were totally eaten up with 
ruff. I was told, that when the workmen came to 
any thing of that fort, it moulder’d to duff as foon 
as they touch’d it ; occaflon’d doubtlefs by the damp- 
nefs of the earth, and the many ages it lay buried. 
I have little more to mention about the curioflties ; I 
will only tell you, that I was affured there were 
found many vafes, and chryftal bottles full of water ; 
but that might penetrate thro’ the earth, and fall 
into them, if not clofe flopp’d : alfo a fort of ffandilh, 
or inkhorn, in which were found many ftylets or pens* 
with which they wrote in thofe days. When it was 
firfl taken out, they fay the ink had not only its na- 
tural colour, but that it was yet capable of tinging : 
it was very dry, when I touch’d it. There were 
eggs found quite whole, but empty j alfo nuts and 
almonds ; grain of feveral forts, beans and peafe. I 
have by me fome of it, which refembles beans of 
the fize of coffee-berries burnt quite black. Many 
other forts of fruit were found burnt quite to a coal, 
tho’ otherwife whole and intire. 
I will clofe this narrative, by declaring, that I can- 
not be of the fentiments of fome, who affert, that this 
city was fuddenly fwallow’d up, which implies, that 
the earth muft have open’d, and formed a pit to re- 
ceive it. My opinion is, that it was overwhelmed 
with the boiling matter iffuing from the mountain, at 
the time of the eruption. My reafon for this con- 
jecture is, that moll things were found upright, 
S 2 chiefly 
