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Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 739, 13 March 1877, Page 6 (Supplement)

The following is an extract from the letter of the correspondent of "The Times" at Naples : — "When at Palermo a fcAv days ago my travelling companions and I visited a monastery of Carthusian friars m the neighbourhood of that city. There avc beheld the ghastly sight of S,OOO dried mummies of deceased persons, either aminaert round the vaults m an erect position, clothed m the costumes they wore m life, or placed m boxes or coffins, where -they lie m a sort of semi-State, attired either m grave clothes or ordinary dress. A payment of 35 francs secures any one the former privilege, though 70 are required for what, perhaps, may be called first-class accommodation. When a dead body arrives for treatment at the lhonasterv, it is entirely divested of clothing, and is placed, Avith others undergoing a similar process, for a year m a closed vault. Whatever, at the expiration of that period, remains unconsumed by the drying action of the atmosphere, together Svith the volunteer assistance of multitudinous rats, is then brought out, and, attired m appropriate, garb, grins m fearful and fantastic mockery at those surviving relatives Avho arc alloAvecl to make an annual visit. A Sicilian gentleman Avas paying a morning call of this kind during our brief sojourn m the vaults, and avc saw him unlocking the coffin containing the object of his solicitude, and thereby disclosing Avhat Avas left of his •friend, Avho Avas attired m fttll evening costume Avith white gloves, Avhich hung but loosely on their late OAvncr's bony fingers. To : make tins parody of life m death, if possible, more disgusting, photographs representing the living features of" these preserved monstrosities were occasionally appended to the relics, and 1 we- saw -one portraying a handsome man of —as avc learn by Ids label — 37 years of age, the original of which grinned at us with a set of Avhite teeth so perfect as to attract my attention toAvards them.