From the anxiety with which mummies were sought by European nations, the Arabs have made a kind of property of catacombs, and frequently prevent the access of the curious ; or practising an imposture on them, a mummy is secretly conveyed to a well known catacomb, and the deluded traveller taught to believe that he is its original discoverer.
Next to the Egyptian catacombs, the most extensive with which the moderns are acquainted are those of an cient Rome. Though their antiquity perhaps is not equal to that of some others dispersed throughout the world, an unusual interest is excited by their containing the remains of a people, who had rendered themselves so illustrious, and whose history is so familiar to our know ledge.
The Roman catacombs are of great extent. Some maintain, that, entering close to the city, they stretch se veral leagues beyond it ; but the precise destination and limits of these, if they actually do exist. are not ascot tained. Some others have for centuries been frequently explored : in the course of which a zealous antiquarian. Anthony Bosio, who has amply elucidated this subject, ventured to pass entire days within them, had provisions carried there, and, notwithstanding the danger of the en terprise, traversed their utmost extremities. Vet the, hazard of this is great : persons have been known to lose their way ; and the passages are of such intricacy. tnat it is unsafe to penetrate their recesses without a clue.
The catacombs of Rome, like those of most other places, are long, narrow, subterraneous galleries, cree.s each other at right angles, or passing off obliquely Chambers at each side occasionally appear, and a glim mering of light is admitted by openings above. distant by intervals of 300 yards or more. But in the interior it is dark as night. The excavations are invariably under the earth, in the puzzolana whereon the city is built : they are necessarily narrow to preserve the roof, and, in some parts, are vaulted. Nevertheless the earth frequently detaches itself from above, and obstructs the passages, or totally blocks thbm up. There are cavities each side, which have forme' ly been appropriated for the reception of lamps; and deep niches penetrate into the walls, wherein the bodies of the deceased were de posited. These niches are invariably in proportion to the size of the individual ; those of women and children being smaller than the rest.
The bodies are regularly arranged in one tier of niches above another, along the sides of the galleries, each nick of sufficient capacity according to the number it was required to contain, and closed at the foot by a single brick. In general, the galleries can admit of a
man traversing them with facility, and there two or three rows of niches arc seen : in some places they are more lofty ; and Bosio relates, that one which he discovered was so high, as to receive eight or ten bodies above each other in the sides. Parts of the same gallery, however, were so low, that he had to advance bending downwards, or crawling on his breast, to the different streets and passages; probably the consequence of the superincum bent earth having given way.
The cement by which the tombs are closed, unless where yielding from too great desiccation, is yet entire ; and on removing the brick to inspect the interior, the skeletons of the deceased appear in good preservation. In elucidation of this fact, let us quote the words of an adventurous explorer, who recently penetrated these gloomy mansions. " The brick obstructing the aperture of a catacomb being removed, a body, apparently that of a young woman, was discovered. Even yet all the teeth were preserved in her jaws. Here hones were totally covered with stalactites, exhibiting a most singular spec tacle ; for the lig-lit, reflected by the motion of the torches, seemed to animate the body, and the image of the spec tator was multiplied a thousand fold, by the most entire portion of the skull."—" Another tomb was opened, wherein a skeleton, turned towards the east, was seen. The hands were crossed on the breast, and but few teeth were in the jaws : it seemed to be that of an old man. my guide stretched one arm to the head, and the other to the feet, designing to raise the skeleton, it im mediately fell into a whitish humid dust. Nothing ex cept the substance of the teeth, which were eleven in number, remained: the whole skeleton had vanished from view." It may here be remarked, that it is proved by numerous instances, while the remainder of the body is utterly decomposed and resolved into the elements, the teeth continue entire, their enamel white and perfect. But though it be also known, that the human hair re mains an extraordinary time in preservation, none is seen in the catacombs of Rome. Skeletons are observ ed there, the hands of which are not crossed on the breast.