the mammoth cave of kentucky. 6^ 



The Long Route. 



The '*" Long Route " abounds with places of interest. We shall 

 only have time to dwell on the most notable. 



The entrance is near the '' Giant's Coffin," through a narrow 

 passage called ^""the valley of humility/' very fatiguing to walk in^ 

 but the next is much worse, averaging only eighteen inches wide 

 and four feet high, and is well termed '^'^fat man's misery." These 

 passages have been hollowed out entirely by water. 



''Bacon Chamber." — In a part of this cavern there appears to 

 hang a number of hams and legs of pork, but in reality merely 

 blocks of limestone, shaped by the solvent action of carbonic acid' 

 assisted slightly by running water. The water has perforated the 

 rock near the roof, and worked it into the form it presented, 

 except that the now hanging pieces originally rested on the rock 

 beneath ; after a time this under rock was worn away — 

 probably by a current of water come from the ''Dead Sea," 

 which is not far off — and the perforated rock above was left 

 hanging to the roof: hence the limestone pork and hams. 



Following our guide, we now reach the first subterranean river. 

 The darkness and stillness of the water and cavern fully justify its 

 being named the "Dead Sea." As we looked down from a 

 terrace about forty feet above the water, all was pitch dark till the 

 Bengal light revealed the waters. They are said to be twenty feet 

 deep, and stagnant, but this is doubtful ; as the waters rise at 

 times, there must be a connection with some other river. 



Before one has time to shake off the gloom of the " Dead Sea," 

 the sound of running water is again heard, and we reach the river 

 " Styx." The impression conveyed is as dreary and mournful as 

 the name implies. Further on is " Lake Lethe." The water is 

 refreshing to drink, and the whole scene is brighter. The extent 

 •of the lake is unknown, but the navigable portion is about a 

 hundred and fifty yards long, and ten to iorty feet wide. The roof 

 in parts is very low and rugged, and along the sides are projecting 

 rocks. In this lake are found the remarkable eyeless fish and 



