CATACOMBS OF NECROPOLIS. 38/ 
after, applied to Ptolemy, by the priests of chap. 
We will detain the Reader no longer with Descent 
such observations ; but proceed to a survey of ^crlpta. 
the surprising- repositories that have given rise 
to them, and which received among the Antients 
the appropriate appellation of the " City of the 
Dead." Nothing so marvellous ever fell within 
our observation ; but in Upper Egypt, perhaps, 
works of a similar nature may have been found. 
The Cryptce of Jerusalem, Tortosa, Jehilee, Lao- 
dicea, and Tehnessus\ are excavations of the 
same kind, but far less extensive. They enable 
us, however, to trace the connection which 
antiently existed in the sepulchral customs of 
all the nations bordering the eastern coast of 
the Mediterranean ; from the shores of Carthage 
and of Cyrene, to Egypt, to Palcestine, to Phce- 
nicia, and to Asia Minor. An inclination com- 
mon to man, in every period of his history, 
but particularly in the patriarchal ages, of 
being finally " gathered unto his fathers/' may 
explain the prodigious labour bestowed in 
(5) See Chap. VII. of the Fourth Volume of these Travels, p. 323, 
&c. Octavo Edition ; also the observations in Note (4) of the same 
page, as to the situation of such sepulchres, 
C C 2 
