TO THE CIMMERIAN BOSPORUS. 
graved work. It possessed no elasticity, but, 
on account of the ductility of pure gold, might, ^ 
with sufficient force, be expanded so as to admit 
the wrist or the ankle of the person who might 
wear it ; and probably, when once adapted to 
the form, it remained during the life-time of the 
owner. We regarded this relic as one of the 
most antient specimens of art perhaps existing 
in the world; shewing the progress made in 
metallurgy, and in the art of setting precious 
stones, at a very early period; and exhibiting 
a remarkable type of the mythology of the age 
in which it was fabricated; the practice of 
binding a serpent round the leg or arm, as an 
amulet, being one of the earliest superstitions 
common to almost every nation, and which yet 
exists in many countries. Immediately above 
the stone-work constructed for the vault of the 
sepulchre, we observed, first a covering of earth, 
and then a layer of sea-weed 2 , compressed by 
another superincumbent stratum of earth, to the 
thickness of about two inches. This layer of 
sea-weed was as white as snow, and, when taken 
in the hand, separated into thin flakes, and fell 
to pieces. What the use of this vegetable 
covering could be, is now uncertain : it is found 
in all the tombs of this country. Pallas observed 
(2) Zostera marina , according to Pallas. 
