860 Dr Davy's Account of Cole^s Cave, Barbadoes, 



probably been washed out of the soil, and are a portion of the 

 shower which fell on the island at the time of the last vol- 

 canic eruption which took place in St Vincent, and of which 

 a thin layer is often now to be seen a few inches below the 

 surface, in spots where the soil has not since been disturbed. 

 Of the manner in which the different varieties have formed, 

 I shall not here speculate. Composition probably will be 

 found to be the most important governing circumstance ; and 

 that one kind has the character of marble, because formed of 

 pure carbonate of lime ; another, the character of tufa, be- 

 cause composed of carbonate of lime, mixed with foreign mat- 

 ter. Nor shall I speculate on the question whether the cYy^ 

 stalline stalactites acquired their peculiar structure immedi- 

 ately as they formed, or subsequently after the deposition of 

 the material, in consequence of an internal molecular action 

 and movement, favoured with the presence of water. In al- 

 luding to this last, I would express the hope that it may have 

 the attention paid to it which it seems to deserve. 



In conclusion, I would remark, that as there are few, if any, 

 objects in this interesting island more deserving of being 

 seen by the casual visitor than " Cole's Cave," if he has any 

 curiosity in such scenes, it is easily gratified. A good car- 

 riage road through a pleasant country will bring him to with- 

 in a hundred yards of the mouth of the cavern ; and of a deep 

 ravine contiguous, itself worthy of a visit. In an hour he may 

 reach it from Bridgetown. He will have no difficulty in find- 

 ing a guide on the spot. If he intends to explore the re- 

 cesses of the cavern, he should come provided with a change 

 of clothes, and of shoes, and with two or three wax candles. 

 No lantern is necessary, as there is not any strong current of 

 air below. And, however far he penetrate, he need have 

 no apprehension of suffering from the state of the air, which, 

 so far I went, and we were three hours in the cavern, wading 

 and wandering, appeared to be as pure and as respir^ble as 

 the open atmosphere. This, I specially mention, because the 

 Rev. M. Hughes, in his " Natural History of Barbadoes," 

 published nearly a century ago, states in his account of an ex-» 

 eursion he made to this cave, that " near a quarter of a mile 



