154 CAVERN AT STONEHOUSE. 



opening, which, on account of its narrowness we 

 could not well examine, and in all probability it has 

 a dangerous flexure. In each side of this Tent 

 Cave is a cleft; the right runs horizontally inwarda 

 ten feet, the left measures six by four. The sides of 

 the cave are every where deeply and uncouthly in- 

 dented, and here and there strengthened with ribs, 

 naturally formed, which, placed at a due distance 

 from each other, give some ideas of fluted pillars in 

 old churches. 



In a direct line from this cave to the opposite 

 point is a road thirty feet long. The descent is 

 steep and rugged, either from stones thrown into it 

 from above, since the discovery, or from fraiiments 

 that have fallen offat difl'erent times, from different 

 places below. This road is very strongly but rude- 

 ly arched over, and many holes on both sides are to 

 be seen ; but being very narrow, do not admit of re- 

 mote inspection or critical scrutiny. 



Having scrambled down this deep descent, we 

 arrive at a natural arch of Gothic-like structure, which 

 is four feet from side to side, and six feet high. Here 

 some petrefactions are seen depending. On the right 

 of this arch is an opening like a funnel, into which a 

 slender person might creep ; on the left is another 

 correspondent funnel, the course of which is oblique, 

 and the end unknown. 



Beyond this Gothic pile is a large space, to which 

 the arch is an entrance. This space, or inner room 

 (for so we have termed it) is eleven feet long, ten broad 

 twenty-five high. Its sides have many large exca- 

 vations, and here two columns, which seem to be a 

 mass of petrefactions, project considerably. On the 

 surfaces of those pillars below, are seen some fan- 

 tastic protuberances, and on the hanging roofs above, 

 some crystal drops that have been petrified in their 

 progress. Between those columns is a chasm capa- 

 ble oi containing three or four men. 



Returning from this room, we perceive on the left 

 hand an avenue thirty feet long naturally floored with 



