The record-union., 1896-07-04
PETRIFIED CITIES.
Investigation of Several Interesting
Fables.

Among the cities of fable the petrified
variety was interesting We have it In
most parts Of the world-our prosaic
islands knew it. but as a submarine
curiosity. In the days when London
enjoyed the presence of an ambassador
from Tripoli, that parsonage astonished
the Royal Society once at least The
famous traveller, DR.. Shaw, had men,
TONED the story of petrified village
near Cyrene. Scientific people derid-
ed it, scientific people upheld tin
short, discussion arose Some mem
bers of the Royal Society, recollecting
that there were grave and responsible
inhabitants Of Tripoli within reach. nut
the question before the ambassador.
He explained with a vengeance. One
of his friends, person, of course.
whose honor could not be impugned.
was well acquainted with the spot.
Shaw made great mistake in describ-
ing it as village. City was the proper
word. The walls inclosed an exact cir
Gle, numerous streets crossed at right
angles, with shops and avenues of
trees, and noble castle stood in the
midst. In the shops and streets were
people variously employed-the gentle
man noted in especial a baker and his
customers loaves in hand, woman
sucking her baby and so forth. He
entered the castle and found a king. or
somebody of rank, lying on a gorgeous
bed with guards about him. Animals
abounded, such as donkeys. camels.
oxen, sheep, birds. But everything was
stone of peculiar blush tint, even the
nu 1xyir Oh
peoples hands; witness brought a
quantity away, and the ambassador
regretted that he could not find some
pieces presented to himself at the mo-
ment. A description was forthcoming.
however; the coins were as large as
English shillings, with a horses head
ON one side and writing in unknown
characters on the other. A happy lit
tie touch represented that many of the
figures had lost head or limb-petri-
factions will not endure for ever Of
course The Royal Society expressed
warm gratitude for this communion
ton.
1t is scarcely worth while to seek the
origin of q fable which is sufficiently
explained by the vagaries of magma
ton That 1t was localized at Cyrene-
among countless other spots-may be
due to the existence of large and we'll
preserved metropolis there, with many
statues erect in Shaw's time, if not now.
He himself made long and perilous
Journey to Harnam, in Nun1idia, where.
as the Arabe avouched, a Bedouin en-
campment was on view, surrounded by
oxen and sheep, all turned to stone. In
oh of
for the legend could be found. But it
was SO widely diffused in those days that
rumors Of the marvel reached the court
of France, and M. lie Marie, Consul at
Tripoli, received instructions to inquire
He employed some Janissaries; who
even undertook to bring away petri-
fed Bedouin; but they pointed out, very
reasonably, that a full-grown specimen
would be too heavy. The Consul de-
clared that baby would satisfy him.
to begin with at any rate. After many
months, during which his interest was
kept up by frequent drafts for expenses.
the JanisSaries returned, and sure
enough they had a stone baby-a very
pretty one, too, for 1t proved afterward
to be little statue of Cupid found
among the ruins of Leptis; they had
broken off the wings and culver. Bruce
also was tempted to visit the spot called
Ras Sem; and Captain Smith, of her
najesty's ship Adventure, went in
search Of 1t, but in another direction.
The Sultan of Fezzan told him a story
much like the ambassadors and he
travelled, full of hope, nine days through
q desert country. In this case, however.
there were really buildings and bas-re-
liefs of men and animals, If not statues.
London Standard.