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COXE’S TRAVELS IN RUSSIA. 827
© This mafs, which exhibits the firft inftance of native iron ever found in a perfect
ftate of malleability, was difcovered on an eminence oppofite to Mount Memis, near
the eaftern bank of the Yeniséi, between the rivulets Oberi and Sifim, which fall into
that river above the town of Krafnoyarfk. It was a feparate mafs, which .feemed to
have been detached, by a lapfe of time, from the hill on which it refted ; and what is
very remarkable, the chain of mountains, among which it was found, do not afford
the leaft traces of any volcano, any remains of forges or ancient mines, or in any other
part the fmalleft appearances of native iron. Within three hundred and feventy-four
a of the {pot where it was obferved, is a rich vein of blueifh magnetic ore ; which,
eing vifited by the Ruffian miners, firft led to the difcovery of the infulated mafs. In
its original ftate, it weighed, one thoufand four hundred and forty Englifh pounds, and
was incrufted in moft parts with a thick coat of blackifh iron ore. The infide confifts
of pure malleable iron, divided by irregular cavities, which are filled with a vitrified
tranfparent fubftance, yellow for the moft part, but black in a few places, efpecially
near the furface, and blended here and there with ochre. Thofe who have never feen
any part of this mafs may be difpofed to conclude that it muft have been the effect of
art; but they who examine it with attention muft be of opinion, that it was entirely
natural, although they cannot account for the mode of its production.”
The anatomical cabinet is highly efteemed; it was prepared by Ruyfch, a celebrated
anatomift of the Hague, and fold, in 1717, to Peter the Great, for 30,000 florins *.
This colle€tion is remarkable for the regular fucceflion of fcetufes in fpirits, from the
earlieft period of conception to the birth of the infant; and for the injections of the
brain and eye. The membranes of the eye are fo fine and tender, that it requires in-
finite care to inje& them; and Ruyfch fucceeded in this difficult operation. He fup-
pofed that he had difcovered a new membrane in the choroides of the eye, which is from
him called Ruyfchian ; and although, in the opinion of the moft able anatomifts, he did
not fuccced in his attempts to prove the exiftence of this new membrane f, yet his
labours muft be efteemed of great ufe, and his injections of the finer veffels of the eye
are juftly admired for their fuperior delicacy.
I haften to the chamber of rarities, in which, among the moft confpicuous curiofities,
muft be mentioned the arms and ornaments found in the tombs of Siberia, many of
which are of great value}, being of maflive gold, and of elegant workmanfhip. Thefe
ornaments
~ ® About 3,000.
+ He affirmed, that he divided the choroides into two membranes; but it is now the received opinion,
that he only fplit the fame membrane into two parts.
t The quantity of gold found in thofe tombs is fcarcely credible. One which was opened in the neigh-
bourhood of the Irtifh, is thus defcribed in the Archzologia : 2
« Afterremoving a very deep covering of earth and ftones, the workmen came to three vaults conftru@ed
of ftones of rude workmanfhip.
«That wherein the Prince was depofited, which was in the centre, and the largeft of the three, was
eafily diftinguifhed by the fword, {pear, bow, quiver, and arrow, which lay befide him, In the vault be=
yond him, towards which his feet lay, were his horfe, bridle, faddle, and ftirrups. The body of the Prince
jay in a reclining pofture, upon a fheet of pure gold, extending from head to foot, and another fheet of
old of the like dimenfions was fpread over him. | He was wrapped in arich mantle, bordered with gold,
and ftudded with rubies and emeralds. His head, neck, breaft, and arms naked, and without any orna-
ment.
«In the leffer vault lay the Princefs, diftinguifhed by her female ornaments. She was placed reclining
again{t the walls, with a gold chain of many links, fet with rubies, round her neck, and gold bracelets round ~*
her arms. The head, breaft, and arms were naked. The body. was covered with a rich robe, but without
any border of gold or jewels, and was laid on a fheet of fine gold, and covered over with another. The
5N 2 four
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