On Canadian Caverns. 1S9 



from the soutli- western part of the township of Rawdon. That 

 part of Kildare north of this band is composed of gneiss of the Lau- 

 rentian system most probably interstratified with some bands of 

 crystalline limestone, in which the cavern is developed. 



It was about the year 1822 that two young Canadian peasants, 

 whilst prosecuting their sport of hunting the wildcat, pursued two 

 of their game, until entering an obscure hole a little above the 

 bank of the river, they lost sight of them. The more enterpris- 

 ing of the two attempted to enter the aperture in the rock, at that 

 time barely sufficient to admit of his crawling into it, but with- 

 out success. Providing themselves with lights, a second attempt 

 was more successful, " for not only did they secure their prey (of 

 which they have preserved the skin to this day), but they dis- 

 covered," says Colonel Boucbette, " another of the many phen- 

 omena of nature, a description of which cannot be uninteresting." 

 The following account is given in the Colonel's words : — 

 " I descended into the cavern by means of a trap-door, which 

 has recently been placed at one of its angles for the facility and con- 

 venience of strangers desirous of visiting this singular spot, having 

 as my guides two of the inhabitants of the neighbouring house, 

 bearing lighted tapers. The height of the cave where we entered 

 is five feet, from which angle branch off two caves, the lesser 

 whereof is of the followino- dimensions : — 



Length 25 feet 



Breadth varying from 2^ to 9 " 



Height 5 " 



It bears about a south-east course from the entrance. 



The other has in length 70 feet. 



Width from 7 to 8 " 



Height gradually increasing. . . 5 to 13 " 

 "The increase in the loftiness of the cave originates from the 

 declivity of the ground part, which, at the north-eastern extremity, 

 is at least twenty- three feet from the surface. It forms nearly a 

 right angle with the first, at its south-western end, and an angle 

 scarcely obtuse at the other with another cave, whose 



Length is 80 feet 



Average width 6 " 



Height 5 " 



At the south-eastern extreme of this cave branches off another 

 of inferior size and consequence, bearing about a due north course, 



