162 Desciiptinti nf a Cavern rear 



into a laroe and magniticent cavity, formed within the 

 bowels of the rock, of considerable uiagiiitiide, and not 

 cheered by a single ray ot light from above : huge pieces 

 of rock which must have fallen frcmi the top impede vour 

 progress, and considerable caution must he observed in 

 passing over these fragments. 'JTic length of this cavity is 

 39 feet; its greatest height about 50 feet, and breadth 12 

 feet; it terminates in a narrow cleft, too small to admit a 

 middle-sized man : the silence of this cave is never dis- 

 turbed, except by the bats which are observed to be sus- 

 pended from the top ; and the sound produced by the 

 labourers from without, blasting the rock, reverberates' 

 through the hollows like thunder. A great number of 

 stalactites depend from the top, assuming various forms ; 

 but they arc not remarkable either for whiteness, or beauty 

 of appearance. The rock consisting entirely of limestone, 

 of course all the depositions are calcareous: one deposit de- 

 mands particular attention, as it is considered the guardian 

 idol of the cavern : it is situated on the left hand as you en- 

 ter, a few feet from the bottom, and presents the appearance 

 of a human head ; it is commonly called the Pope's head. 

 The reason of this appellation it would be perhaps now 

 difficult to discover: owing to the continual droppings from 

 above, its surface is soft, and all visitors are desired by 

 the guide to slick a pin into the head-, to serve as a defence 

 against the machinations of the fairies. From this prin- 

 cipal cavity another branches off of greater regularity and 

 of a more vaulted appearance : this second passage is 9 feet 

 in breadth, I 1 feet in height, and 72 feet in length ; it is 

 called the Pixies' parlour, and the bottom is sufficiently level 

 to admit of dancing. Here tires are liiihled, and parties re- 

 gale themselves : the effect is awful and striking, the flames 

 playing about the cavern, the sound of the music, and the 

 resounding echos of the voices. Banditti might have 

 chosen this as a proper place to have held their revels. At 

 the extremity of this cavity the light is seen streaming 

 through the rock from above, and ori looking up you per- 

 ceive a narrow c pening of considerable height ; at the top 

 of \% hich huge masses of rock seem suspended over your 

 head, and strike the mind of the spectators with terror 

 Icit they should suddenly be crushed to pieces. This was 

 certainly the first opening by which the cavern was entered, 

 and the narrow passage was afterwards cflected by the hand 

 of man : its regularity forbids the idea of its natural origin. 

 Besides the abovementioned chambers, several narrow 

 entrances are discovered, which may perhaps lead to the 



discovery 



