425 Collections from American Literature. [Dee. 1, 



at least 1800 feet in ciicumferencc, and broup;lit out, together with the imimmy 



whose arch is abont 150 feet higli in the wliicli was found at the Second Hoppers, 



centre. After having marked arrows We hajipily Arrived at the mouth of the 



(pointing downwards) upon the slab- cave about three in the morning, nearly 



Stones around the little passage through exhausted and worn down with nineteen 



•which we liad ascended, we walked for- hours continued fatigue. 



Tvard nearly to tlie centre of this area. I was near fainting on leaving the 



It was past midnight when I entered cave and inhaling tlic vapid air of the at- 



this chamber of denial darkness, mosphere, after having so long breathed 



"where all things are hnsh'd, and Na- the pure air which is occasioned by the 



lure's self lies dead." I must acknow- nitrcofthe cave. The pulse beat stronger 



ledo-e I felt a sliivcriiig horror at my when in the cave, but not so fast as when 



situation, when I looked back \\\mi\ tlie u]ion the surface. 



different avenues tiuoiigh wliie'i I had I have described to you hardly one 



passed since I entered the cave at eight half of the cave, as the avenues between 



ill the morning; and at that "lime of the mouth of the cave and the Second 



»io-ht, when church-yards groan," to be Hopjieis have not been named. There is 



bmicd several miles in the dark recesses a passage in the main avenue, about 



of this awful cavern — tiie grave perhaps sixty rods fiom the entrance, like that 



of thousands of human beings — gave of a trap-door. By sliding aside a large 



me no very pleasant sensations. \\ itii flat stone, you can descend sixteen or 



the n-uide who was now with me I took eighteen feet in a very narrow defile, 



theonlv a\enue leading from this cham- where the passage comes upon a level, 



ber and traversed it for the distance of and winds about in such a mauner as to 



a mile in a soutlierly dirictiou, when my pass under the main passage without ha- 



lamps forbad my going further, as tluy ving any communication with it, and at 



Vvere nearly exhausted. The avenue, or last opens into the main cave by two 



toassa^e was as large as any that we had large passages just beyond the Second 



entered, and how far we miglit have 

 travelled had our lights held out. is (m- 

 known. It is siipposed by all who liave 

 »ny knowledge of this cave, that Green 

 River» a stream navigable several hun- 



Iloppers. It is called the "glauber salt 

 room," from salts of that kind being- 

 found there. There is also the sick- 

 room, the bat-room, and the flint-room, 

 all of which are large, and some of them 



dred miles, passes over three branches of quite long. The last that I shall men- 

 this cave. tion is, a very winding avenue, vvhicli 



It was nearly one o'clock at niglit branchcsolf at the Second ITo|)pers, and 



Vhen we descended "tiie passage of the 

 chimney," as it is called, to the guide 

 whom I left sealed on the rocks. He 

 was ([nil ■ alarmed at our long absence, 

 and wa heard by us a long time bcfoie 

 ve reaeheil the passage to descend to 

 him, halloing with all his mi ht, fearing 

 we had lost our track in the ruins 

 above. 



runs west and south-west, for more liian 

 two miles. This is called the "haunted 

 chamber," from the echo of the sound 

 made in it. The arch of this avenue is 

 very beautifully incrusted with lime- 

 stone spar ; and in many j)laces the co- 

 lumns of spar are truly elegant, extend- 

 ing from the ceiling to the floor. I dis- 

 covered in this avenue a very high dome, 



Very near tlie vertical passage, and in or near the centre of the arch, appa 



rot far from where I had left my guide 

 sitting, I found some very beautiful spe- 

 cimens of soda, whicii I brought out 

 •with me. 



• We r(-turnn(l over ])iles of salt-petre 

 earth, and fire-beds, out of one avenue 

 into another, until at lust, with great fa 



rently fifty feet high, hung in rich dra- 

 pery, festooned in the most fanciful 

 manner, for six or eight feet from the 

 hangings, and in colours the most rich 

 and brilliant. 



The columns of spar and the stalac- 

 tites in tiiis chamber are extremely ro- 



iioue an^l a dim light, wo entered the mantic in their aj>pearance, with the ro- 



walls of the chief city, where, for the flrct ion of one or two lights. There is a 



laM time, we trimmed our lamps, and cellar formed of this sjtar, called, " A\il- 



entered the s|)acii>us avenue that carded kins' armed chair," which is very large, 



us to t',<> Second Hoppers. and stands in the centre of the avenue, 



I f(iu!i<l, wlien in the last mentioned and is encircled with many smaller ones, 



lar^-e uvoiiie or upper chamber, many Coluinnsof spar, fluted and studded with 



curiosities, such as glauber salts, iipsom knobs of spar and stalactites; drapery of 



salts tliut, yellow ochre, si«u- of different various colours superbly festooned, and 



k'luds, aud some petrifactions, wiiich I Imng in the most graceful manner, are 



shoNvn 



