Mammoth Cave of Kentucky. 233 



is usually called a dome^ from the regular and arched appearance of* 

 the ceiling. These pits or domes are sometimes of almost incredible 

 height ; and I am satisfied that, in one or two instances, they reach 

 through the entire vertical thickness of all the strata composing the 

 cave, or near 300 feet. Such is Gorin's dome, one of the most 

 remarkable features of the cave. Without seeing them, you will 

 hardly credit and cannot appreciate the sharpness with which the 

 vertical walls of this pit are moulded into architectural forms. At 

 one point the outer diameter of the circle bounding it comes so close 

 to one of the adjacent galleries, that the thin shell of the interposed 

 rock has been removed to a space two feet square, through which, 

 as through a window, the observer may put his head, and obtain an 

 imperfect glimpse of the interior. You perceive that the loophole 

 through which you look is midway between the ceiling and the first 

 gallery below ; and by a Bengal light, or other powerful illumina- 

 tion, a tolerable view is obtained of the vast proportion of this mo- 

 nolithic structure, built without hands. I was provided with the 

 means of producing the Drummond light, and with the guide, my 

 assistant, and Mr Mantell, we succeeded in making the perilous de- 

 scent, where, only by groping in the dark over profound chasms, 

 could we find a foothold to a point some hundred feet below the 

 opening above described. Here we erected the Drummond light, 

 and by its aid obtained the first view of its lofty ceiling. The dome 

 is of an irresjular outline, in the main ovoidal, and from the ceilinoj 

 hangs a great curtain of sculptured and vertically-grooved rock, un- 

 supported below, with the graceful outline, and apparent lightness 

 of actual drapery. A small stream of water falls from the top, 

 which is broken into spray long before it reaches the bottom, and 

 keeps the whole interior wet with its splashing. No gallery has 

 been found which leads to the bottom of this most beautiful dome. 

 We found other similar domes in which the pendant curtain just 

 described had fallen, and portions of it but little removed from their 

 original position, seemed poised to a second fall. 



Of the mysterious rivers, with their many-tongued echoes, — the 

 ■ mounds of mud and drift which they annually heap up, — the long 

 miles of avenues which stretch away beyond them, rugged or smooth, 

 ■—and of the vaulted ceilings, crystal grottos, and gypsum coronets, 

 which tempt the mineralogist to untiring exploration, I must say 

 nothing, for I have already gone too far in trespassing so much 

 upon your kindness. — The American Journal of Science and Arts, 

 Vol. xi., No. 33, 2d Series, p. 332. 



