The Underground Drainage 



position formerly occupied by the edges of the drop, and 

 thus forms a ring or short wide tube, on the end of 

 which the next drop collects. This when it falls leaves 

 a little more carbonate of lime on the ring previously 

 formed, and thus the thin tubular stalactites are slowly 

 formed. 



The roof became lower and lower as we progressed, 

 and eventually we had to lie on the bottom of the canoe 

 and propel ourselves by pushing with our hands against 

 the roof. We almost despaired of being able to proceed 

 farther when we suddenly glided out from the tunnel into 

 a lofty chamber, of which we could see neither the roof 

 nor the sides. Before venturing to leave the entrance 

 to the tunnel, in case we might not be able to find it 

 again, we took a lump of the soft clay and put a candle 

 in it. When this was lighted we stuck it against the 

 wall of the chamber immediately above the low mouth 

 of the tunnel. 



We then paddled straight ahead, the candle we had 

 left behind serving to give us our direction. After 

 about 600 yards so far as we could estimate it we 

 came to the shore of the lake, and were able to effect a 

 landing on a platform of limestone strewn with rounded 

 and angular boulders and sand. As this seemed to 

 continue for some distance we determined to explore it 

 farther, but first took the precaution of lifting our canoe 

 out of the water, as it would be extremely unpleasant 

 for us were it to drift away. 



Before leaving the canoe we carefully took the 

 compass-bearing of our candle lighthouse, as it would 

 in all probability have burned out before our return, in 

 which case we might have considerable trouble in locating 



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