54 ORIGINAL AETICLES. 



Following the rapid descent of the road from Aurignac to Bou- 

 logne for about a mile, (1600 metres), the traveller reaches a point 

 whence, on the opposite side of the valley, the low ridge of the 

 mountain of Fajoles does not rise more than about twenty metres 

 above the stream of the Eodes. On the northern slope of this 

 eminence may be seen an escarpment, more or less natural, of the 

 nummulitic rock (calcaire a melonies of M. Leymerie), and on 

 the side of this a sort of niche, or shallow gi-otto, whose arched 

 entrance looks to the N.W. The floor of this excavation, which 

 is now completely cleared out, is not more than 2i metres in 

 horizontal depth, with an extreme width of 3 metres at the en- 

 trance. It is situated about 13 or 14 metres above the level of 

 the stream. Outside the grotto, and a little below it, the calcareous 

 soil forms a sort of platform, some metres in extent, slightly inclined 

 towards the brook, and leaning on the south against the escarpment 

 of the rock, the perpendicularity of which had, probably, originally 

 been in part produced by the hand of man. 



Ten years ago the existence of this cavern was unknown. Its 

 approaches were concealed under a heap, or talus, formed of frag- 

 ments of the rock and vegetable soil, probably throvsm down solely 

 by atmospheric agency. The place, nevertheless, was often resorted 

 to by the sportsmen of the neighbourhood, owing to the circumstance 

 that at a point in the outer heap of earth, pretty nearly on a level 

 with the vault of the grotto, there was a hole, into which the rabbits, 

 when hotly pursued, were accustomed to take refuge. 



A labouring man, J. B. Bomiemaison, employed in the breaking 

 of stones for the repair of the neighbouring road, was led to intro- 

 duce his hand and arm into this hole, whence, to his great surprise, 

 he brought out a bone of considerable size. At once suspecting the 

 existence of a subterranean cavity, and cm'ious to find out what it 

 contained, he dug away part of the talus below the opening. At 

 the end of some hours he came upon a large slab of stone, of no 

 great thickness, and placed vertically in front of an arched opening, 

 wbich it closed completely, leaving only a hole, resorted to by the 

 rabbits, imcovered. Wlien tliis slab was removed, he noticed a cer- 

 tain quantity of bones and skulls, whicli he at once recognized as 

 human. The bones, which belonged to several skeletons, were found 

 partly imbedded in a loose soil, whicli might have been introduced 

 into the sepulchre at the time of interment. 



This discovery of Bonnemaison's was quicldy noised abroad ; the 

 curious in sucli matters flocked to the place, and various conjectures 

 were formed to explain the occiuTence of sucb an abundance of 

 human remains in a situation so remote from any actual habitation. 

 The older inhabitants of the district recalled the circumstance that at 

 a remote period, a band of coiners had been surprised in the exercise 

 of their nefarious industry, in a solitary house at no great distance 

 from the spot. This was held sufficient to justify the popular impres- 

 sion that tliesc gentry had been also guilty of numerous murders, 



