48 Contrihiitions to Physical Geography. 



threatens to prevent its course into the more ample division of 

 the cavern on the right. On this latter side, the rocky par- 

 tition sinks down absolutely precipitous ; the cavern, likewise, 

 is much deeper than that on the left, and impenetrable dark- 

 ness broods over it. Leaning over the precipice, the ear, 

 after it has become accustomed to the raging of the stream on 

 the other side, hears that its waters far below have pierced 

 the partition, and made their way into the deeper and more 

 ample hall of the cavern. It is, in fact, a natural bridge. 

 The impression, however, on this side is more striking ; for the 

 river is heard eddying along with that dull, heavy, and indis- 

 tinct sound, which, particularly in such circumstances, among 

 subterranean precipices, and in subterranean darkness, always 

 gives the idea of great depth. The guides lighted a few 

 bundles of straw, and threw them into the abyss. They 

 gleamed faintly, as they descended, on the projecting points 

 of the rock ; blazed for a few seconds on the surface of the 

 water, showing its slow, heavy motion, and illuminating, 

 through a small circle, the darkness of the cavern, left its 

 gloom, by their extinction, more oppressive and impenetra- 

 ble. 



" From this spot," says Sartori, " it is not allowed to the 

 boldest of mortals to proceed farther ;" and he said so, because, 

 towards the greater division of the cavern into which the river 

 has thus forced its way, the partition is too precipitous to ad- 

 mit of descent. But mortals not at all bold now go a great 

 deal farther. Towards the smaller division, the partition is 

 not so precipitous, and the cavern itself is not so deep. A 

 flight of steps was cut out on this side, down to the bottom. 

 The partition itself was then pierced in the direction of the 

 greater cavern. When the workmen had got through it, they 

 found themselves still considerably above the bottom of the 

 greater, but the rocky wall was now more sloping, and, by 

 hewing in it a flight of steps, the bottom was reached in safe- 

 ty. The great object was to know what became of the river. 

 We had not advanced many yards along the rocky floor, 

 which owes much of its comparative smoothness to art, when 

 the river was again heard in front, and the lights of the guides 

 glimmered on its waters. It flows right across the cavern ; 



1 



