Grotto of' Ganges. 217 



to leave nature in her finest aspect, in order to descend to her 

 darkest abyss. 



We descended by grasping firmly a rope stretched, and 

 fixed to a rock, till we reached the place where a rope-ladder 

 has been firmly fastened. This difficulty being got over, we 

 find ourselves at the entrance of the first chamber. This en- 

 trance descends progressively, and is covered with maiden- 

 hair. Towards the right is a kind of cave, which is not con- 

 tinued far ; but, in front, there are seen magnificent columns, 

 having the appearance of a row of pillars, and forming gal- 

 leries. These pillars may be about thirty feet high. 



It is in this first chamber, divided into two by these co- 

 lumns, that the torches are lighted, and that, after having 

 breakfasted, we quit for a long time the light of day. From 

 the first we pass to the second chamber by a very narrow pas- 

 sage, where the body is obliged to force itself through oblique- 

 ly. This second chamber is immense. In ascending, there 

 is seen to the left, a curtain of a height which cannot be 

 measured, covered with brilliants, folded with grace, and 

 touching the earth at its front, as if the drapery had been ar- 

 ranged by the most skilful artist. Petrified cascades, as 

 white as enamel — others of a yellow hue, which seem to fall 

 about us in heaps of waves ; — several columns, some truncat- 

 ed, and others in the shape of obelisks ; — the roof loaded with 

 festoons and stars ; — some transparent like glass, and others 

 as white as alabaster — crystals — diamonds — porcelain, a rich 

 and strange assemblage, which seem to realize those pic- 

 tures which were the amusement of our earliest years. 



In proceeding to the left, we pass into a third chamber of 

 considerable width, but of great length. Its form is that of 

 a winding gallery, in which, after we have walked for some 

 time, we come to a small rugged arch, where we are obliged 

 to stoop. This place, which is called the oven, has two open- 

 ings, and the crystallizations, which are white, resemble mus- 

 lins of all patterns. In advancing, we leave on the right a 

 second oven of less interest, and enter a large chamber where 

 nothing is to be seen but rocks uprooted, crushed to pieces, 

 and suspended, as if it had been the scene of the most vio- 

 lent convulsions. Every thing is here gloomy and sad, till 



