C 5°<? 1 
characters, which denote the twelve months, I had 
no doubt about it. I was fo pieafed with fuch a dis- 
covery, that 1 went diredtly to the royal garden, where 
the king and queen were, to whom I prefented it, 
and to whom it gave great Satisfaction. This is all 
that hath been found in thefe three places, by dig- 
ging, Since my lafl letter dated in march. 
I mult not negleCt to acquaint you with what hath 
been found in a trial, which his majefly made at 
Cuma. where were Situated Some Sepulchres, which 
afforded many curious things ; an account of which 
you will not be difplcafed to' read. In May lad, our 
miners opened a tomb of the family Pavilia, which 
formed a Small chamber. On the floor there were 
three corSes, or rather their bones, which were in- 
cluded in four pieces of the piperine Stone. Thefe 
four ffones formed for each corps an oblong cafe. 
The engineer, who was prefent at the difeovery, told 
me, that one of thefe bodies was all covered by a 
Subfiance unknown to him ; but from his relation I 
comprehended what it was. The corps was co- 
vered with a cloth of amianthus, which, as it was 
large, remained in this fituation all on a heap, but 
calcined by the fa Its of the earth, for which rea- 
fon it was neceffary to take it up in pieces, it being 
become extremely brittle, However, to be more Sure 
of my opinion, I had a mind to try it in the fire, 
where it remained unchanged ; whence there is no 
doubt but that it is amianthus. There were found a 
great many little pieces of pa fie as big as beans, which 
were taken by the miners for confits, but are the 
confedtion, which ufed to be put upon dead bodies. 
They are compofed of myrrh and other Spices, and 
even 
