Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1830-11-17
TnE cArAcoMBs OF PALERMO.

NJ. p. K. Botts, a young traveller,
who lately visited Egypt with Baron
Taylor, and who remained some time
in Sicily, gives = curious account OF
the Catacombs Of Palermo. The Sc.
pulchral vaults Of q Convent Of Capn-
chins, situated about . mile from Pa
lermo, have been dug in soil which
possesses the remarkable property Of
drying and preserving from decay the
corpses which are placed there. The
vaults are divided into great number
of galleries, in the walls Of which ma.
ny inches have been cut. and the dead
bodies are placed there in nm upright
position. Monks and mobiles, priests
and lsymen. arc there to be seen stand.
ing In the costume Of their rank and
profession. Each of these corpses &C.
cupics a small cell, to which il is at
tachcd by the back. The bodies seem
to have preserved their vitality, and
to move and gesticulate; and some CT
cerone even pretend that they have
sometimes spoken to the astonished
tourist. Az, with the exception OF
their clothing, these corpses are not at
all confined. and their members are
not in the least restrained, they are
subject to no other influences than the
curious phenomena which result from
the greater or lesser degree Of contrac-
tIbility Of their tissues. Some Of them
are as still and Upright as a sentinel in
his box; others, on the contrary, seem
to bend in different positions Others.
again, are thrown backward. and their
members are distorted a. If they were
suffering horrible torments. One Cd
pears in state Of demoniac fury; YOU
see another like q victim tied to the
stake, and further on, one whose gro.
tesque posture and manners remind
you OF the buffoonery of q clown
Though some Of these corpses have
been here for nearly three hundred
years, it would be in vain to look for a
single skeleton, as all their muscle and
skin are preserved entire. An old
monk, with a large cat, has taken up
his residence in this melancholy abode,
and never leaves it. The inhabitants
OF Palermo choose beforehand the spot
they desire to occupy. They cooIIy
calculate the advantages Of such and
such position. and discuss the merits
OF those who will be their neighbors.
On these occasions they jocuiariy re-
mark, that when one undertakes SO
long q journey, it is impossible to be
too difficult in the choice Of compan :
ions. When they have made up their
minds, they have the inches formed.
and come from time to time to see if
they are Of the proper size, frequently
suggesting alterations and improve
ments. Some Of them carry the jok C
still farther; and the better to serve
their apprenticeship to eternity. con.
demn themselves TO stay in the tomb
Tor several hours, remaining perfectly
dumb and motionless. Figure TO your
self the surprise Of a person not &C.
quainted with this practice, who. in
traversing these galleries in a sort of
darkness visible, should suddenly en-
counter two sparkling eye. peeping
from one Of these inches.
The abode Of melancholy, however.
has its fste- day, the .jotp DIES nsofs. -
The place is then illuminated. and the
dead bodies are decked in new cloth.
ing, which is to serve for the next year;
and, in order that nothing shall be
wanting TO set them of, n0segays are
placed in their hands, and their fore.
heads are sprinkied with odosiferous
scents. No iviag woman is allowed
to visit this tomb, and no dead one to
inhsbit il.
- War may stride over the
land with the crushing step Of a giant
-Pestilence may steal over il like an
tnrisibIc curse--reaching its victims 81
ientiy and unseen--unpeoplinK here a
village and there q ciiy--untIl every
dwelling is sspulehre: Famine may
brood over Il with long aud weary
visitation, until the sky itself is bra
zen, and the beautiful gresnDeSs gives
place TO parched desert---a vide
waste Of unproductive desolation. Bu,
these are only physical evils. The
sild Hover will bloom IA peace on the
field Of battle and above the crushed
skeleton. The destroying angel Of the
pestilenee will retire when hIs GRAND
ne done, and the nation will again
breathe lreely--and the bArrenness Of
famine will cease az last--tke cloud
will he prodigal Of its boarded rain
aud the wilderness will blossom. BuI
Tor moral desolation there j. no re,iv.
lng spring. Let the moral and repub
liean principles Of our country be
bandoned--our representative bow ia
conditional obsequIousncss 10 indivi.
dual dieiAtion. let impotence, and
intrigue, and corruption, triumph ovel
honesty and intellect, and our llber-
ties and strength will depart fofe,e ~,
Df these there can be no rrsuscifsfie