ISPICA.

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cient inhabitants of these gloomy grottos astheir place of rest.

In several of these chambers were variousrings in the Avails, which appeared to havebeen made for the purpose of suspending dif-ferent utensils; while in others were widegrooves Avorked in the stone to serve in lieu ofshelves. We passed through upwards of threemiles of this extraordinary valley always find-ing the same excavations, in the same order,and under the same form ; some, hoAvever, hada second chamber excavated behind the first,while in others Ave observed a round opening,by which a communication Avas preserved withthe floor immediately above. In this openingwere holes, apparently made for the insertionof steps, in order more easily to ascend anddescend from one to the other.

We also discovered many tombs excavatedout of the natural stone, and in the interior ofthem Avere fragments of bones almost in a stateof petrefaction, as Avell as various pieces ofvases composed of a red-coloured earth.

The immense number of chambers existingin this valley, induce most persons to suppose