Account pf a Cavern In SomerfetJJnre. 147 



extent, in which was found a great colledtion of human 

 bones. 



As I have obferved in this cavern many circumHances 

 which appear curious to me, I heg kave to mention them, 

 as I do not believe there is another place in the kingdom, 

 where the different ftages (if I may be allowed the expreffion) 

 of bones incorporating with limeftone rocks can be fo well 

 feen. From the top and fides there is a continual dripping 

 of water, which being loaded with a large quantity of calca- 

 reous earth, depofits a white kind of pafte on moft parts of 

 the cavern. Many qf the bones are incrufted with this ce- 

 ment, and a large proportion of them are actually fixed iti 

 the folid rock. I fuppofe, therefore, that this ful>iftance, 

 which at firft is in a ftate refembling mortar, by lofing its 

 water, hardens into a firm and folid ftone. I had an oppor- 

 tunity of examining the procefs in every part. Had the 

 cavern not been difcovered, and thefe depofited fubftances 

 not been removed, I do not doubt that the whole excavation 

 would, in no great length of time, have been completely 

 filled up. The water was ftill bringing fredi quantities of 

 calcareous earth, and the bones were in fome places com- 

 pletely incorporated with the folid ro.ck. Every degree of 

 intermediate i'olidity was plainly difcernible. There were 

 fcveral nodules of ftone, ea^h of which contained a perfeft 

 human fkull. The fubftauce which is depofited from the 

 water effervefces with acids, and has, in (liort, every cha- 

 racter of limeftone. At the further end of this very curious 

 cavern, where the height is about fifteen feet, there depends 

 a moft beautiful ftala6lite, perfe6lly conical, which, when 

 the cavern was firft difcovered, reached within an inch of a 

 cone of the fame kind which rifes from the floor. By fome 

 accident a fuiall part of the ftalatftite was broken oft'; but 

 Nature is now bufy in repairing an injury whicli had been 

 done to one of the prettleft productions of her mineral king- 

 dom. Had thefe two coft^i met, a beautiful column would 

 have been formed of nearly fifteen feet in hcigiit. On 

 ftriking this ftalartite, a found is produced finiilar to that of 

 a bell, which may be heard at a confiderable dillance be- 

 yond the moutli of the cavern. 



^ Z I exa- 



