ciety by the fame author, I ihall here infert a tranflation.
Let me only remark, that I repeatedly examined the fpeci-
men, and found its real fla-te to be exaCtly defcribed. I ex-
prefsly mention thefe circumftances, as fome perfons have
doubted the exiftence o f this block of native iron, and as I
am always anxious, whenever I have it in my power, to af-
certain the truth o f every relation whichlgive to the publick.
“ This .mafs, which exhibits the firft inftance of native
“ iron ever found in a perfeft itate of malleability, was dif-
“ covered upon an eminence oppoiite to Mount Memis, near
u the Eaftern bank o f the Yenisei, between the rivulets Oberi
“ and Siiim, which fall into that river above the town o f
il ICrafnoyarlk: it was a feparate mafs, which feemed to have
u been detached, by lapfe o f time, from the mountain upon
“ which it refted ; and what is very remarkable, the chain
“ o f mountains, among which it was found, do not afford
“ the leaft traces of any volcano, any remains o f forges or
“ antient mines, or in any other part the fm all ell ap-
fi pearances o f native iron. Within about. 374 yards o f the
fpot where the mafs was obferved, is a rich vein o f a blue-
|| ifh magnetick o re ; which, being vifited by the Ruffian
“ miners, firft led to the difcovery of the infulated mafs.
“ The mafs, in its original itate, weighed 1440 Engliffi
“ pounds, and was incrafted in moil parts with a thick coat
“ o f blackiffi iron ore: The infide conliits o f pure malle-
“ able 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 ocre.
“ Thofe who have never feen any parts o f this mafs may
" be difpofed to conclude that it muft have been the effect of
“ a r t;
“ art; but they who examine it with attention muft CHAP-
“ be of opinion, that it was entirely natural, although they - . ' -
f< cannot account for the mode of its production.
The anatomical cabinet is highly efteemed from its having
been prepared by Ruyfch, a celebrated anatomift o f the
Hague, who fold it in 17 17, to Peter the Great, for 30,000
florins;-. This collection is particularly celebrated for the
regular fucceffion o f fcetufes in fpirits from the earliell period
o f conception to the birth o f the infant; and for the
injections o f the brain and eye. The membranes o f the eye-
are fo fine and tender, that it requires infinite care to inject
them ; and Ruyfch, o f all others, fucceeded beft in this difficult
operation. He fúppofed that he had diicovered a new
membrane in the choroides o f the eye, .which is from him
called Ruyifchian : in order to. afcertain this difcovery, he
fpared neither pains nor expence ;, and although,, in. the opinion
o f the moft able anatomifts, he may not have fucceeded
in his attempts to , prove the exiftence o f this new membrane
t, yet his labouré muft be efteemed of great ufe, and
his injections of the finer veffels o f the eye are juftl.y admired
for .their, liiperior delicacy.
1 haften to thè chamber, o f rarities, in. which; among the
moft confpicuous curiofities, muft be mentioned the ornaments
found in the-tombsof Siberia, many o f which are of
great J value, being o f maffive gold, and o f very elegant
work-
A b ou t /'30C0. w A f t e r removing a v e ry .deep coverin g
+ He affirmed, that h e divided; the elio- jg o f earth and itones,. the workmen came
roides into two; membranes b u t it is now “ to- three vaults conftru&ed- o f ñones o f
the lecèived opinion, that lie .only fp lit the P riide work'manfliip a view' o f w h ich is-
lame membrane into two- parts... **■ exh ib ited in the annexed p la te .
Í The q uantity o l gold found in th efe “ .T h a t wherein the prince w as deposited,
t-ombs is fcarcely credible ; one which, w as “ w h ich v'as in-the cen tre , and the la r g e i t
opened in the neighbourhood o f the I r tiili is “ o f the three was eafily diilingMifhed by:
b r i b e d in the A rch sc c lo g ia “ the ivy or d, fp ear , bow, quive r, and arrow *
“ •w h ic h .