Beyond these, the space became broader; the doors evidently closed
small compartments, projecting from the outer wall of the cellar. I
soon stepped upon a wooden floor, on which were heaps of wool, coarse
linen, and other articles, apparently deposited there for occasional
use. I soon crossed the floor, and found the bare earth again under my
feet.
A little farther on, I found the cellar again contracted in size, by a
row of closets, or smaller compartments projecting on each side. These
were closed by doors of a different description from the first, having
a simple fastening, and no opening through them. Just beyond, on the
left side, I passed a staircase leading up, and then three doors, much
resembling those first described, standing opposite three more, on the
other side of the cellar. Having passed these, I found the cellar
enlarged as before, and here the earth appeared as if mixed with some
whitish substance, which attracted my attention.
As I proceeded, I found the whiteness increase, until the surface
looked almost like snow, and in a short time I observed before me, a
hole dug so deep into the earth that I could perceive no bottom. I
stopped to observe it.--It was circular, perhaps twelve or fifteen feet
across; in the middle of the cellar, and unprotected by any kind of
curb, so that one might easily have walked into it, in the dark.
The white substance which I had observed, was spread all over the
surface around it; and lay in such quantities on all sides, that it
seemed as if a great deal of it must have been thrown into the hole. It
immediately occurred to me that the white substance was lime, and that
this must be the place where the infants were buried, after being
murdered, as the Superior had informed me. I knew that lime is often
used by Roman Catholics in burying-places; and in this way I accounted
for its being scattered about the spot in such quantities.
This was a shocking thought to me; but I can hardly tell how it
affected me, as I had already been prepared to expect dreadful things
in the Convent, and had undergone trials which prevented me from
feeling as I should formerly have done in similar circumstances.
I passed the spot, therefore, with distressing thoughts, it is true,
about the little corpses, which might be in that secret burying-place,
but with recollections also of the declarations which I had heard,
about the favor done their souls by sending them straight to heaven,
and the necessary virtue accompanying all the actions of the priests.
Whether I noticed them or not, at the time, there is a window or two on
each, nearly against the hole, in at which are sometimes thrown
articles brought to them from without, for the use of the Convent.
Through the windows on my right, which opens into the yard, towards the
cross street, lime is received from carts; and I then saw a large heap
of it near the place.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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