Let no one imagine that he has an adequate conception of this wonder
till he has seen it, with his own eyes. Description seems to be
no aid whatever; ocular inspection is positively necessary.
He who fails to see the curiosity in its present locality and
position, will have reason to regret this neglect or misfortune
all his life time.
I was not permitted to make a careful and thorough examination.
"Hands off," was the imperative order of the proprietor, and I
bowed to the decreer. I craved permission to apply a drop of
acid in order to determine certainly whether the material was
gypsum or ordinary limestone, but my request was denied. If on
the application of acid there had been no effervescence, the
inference would be that the specimen was not limestone, the
material of which petrifactions are usually composed. But although
chemical tests and manipulations were prohibited, there seemed to
be no disposition to forbid the use of our eyes--at a respectful
distance. And the proprietor very kindly refrained from exacting
a promise that we would not express an opinion, if we should have
temerity enough to form one.
I take it that this specimen was carefully placed in its present
locality. Had it been washed from a distance, it would have been
fractured and mutilated, and it would not in all likelihood, have
lodged in its present easy and natural position.
If this were once a living man, he must have died ages and ages ago.
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