DISTRICT OF TROAS. 187 
where stone has been used in building, may be chap. 
seen the capitals or shafts of columns, and other ^- > 
fragments from antient ruins. The next morning, 
March the 14th, we passed through Chemalc, cuemai^. 
distant one hour from Bergas. Chemale is full 
of antiquities ^ In the coemetery we copied 
several Inscriptions ; but they are too imperfect 
for insertion. Some granite columns were lying Decompo. 
about, whose surfaces exhibited a very advanced uruniu. 
state of decomposition. We had observed similar 
appearances dXjEne; proving that the jgranzVe had 
been exposed to the action of the atmosphere 
during a very long period ; and also confirming 
a fact of importance ; namely, that the durabi- 
lity of substances employed for purposes of 
sculpture and architecture, is not proportioned 
to their hardness. Marble, which is much softer 
than granite, is capable of resisting longer the 
combined attacks of air and moisture. The 
cause of decomposition in granite columns cannot 
have originated in their interment; since nothing 
tends more to preserve granite than exclusion 
from external air. Of this we had satisfactory 
evidence, when our troops in Egypt subverted 
the cumbent obelisk near Alexandria. The 
hieroglyphical sculpture, upon the side which had 
(.3) Dr. Chandler believed this place to have been the Coloncr of the 
Antients. See " Travels in /isia Minor," p. 34. 
