The Underground Drainage 



used by the men below to inform those above when to 

 pay out, hold on, or haul up the life-line. One shot 

 stop ; two shots lower away ; three haul up. 



On commencing the descent of the ladders it was 

 soon found to be impossible to keep a candle burning 

 as there were strong air currents, and some 50 feet 

 from the surface a small waterfall was encountered. 

 This was spouting out from a cave in the side of the 

 shaft, and at first was a serious obstacle, as the ladder 

 passed clean through it. On continuing the downward 

 journey, however, the ladder was found to pass in 

 behind the main bulk of the water, and only occasional 

 splashes and clouds of spray resembling heavy rain 

 were encountered. 



On reaching the level of the ledge, the two shafts 

 were seen to be separated by a curtain of rock which 

 terminated downwards in a jagged edge from which 

 sheets of water were falling, and the effect of the daylight 

 shining down the main opening was weird in the extreme. 

 Now came the longest and most arduous part of the 

 descent ; gusts of wind caused by the falling water 

 constantly buffeted the explorer, who, wet through to 

 the skin, found his clothes extremely heavy and cold. 



Eventually the bottom was reached, the ladder being 

 just long enough to reach within a foot of the floor. 

 On landing in a pool of water about 2 feet deep, and 

 in a falling spray, it was with a feeling akin to conster- 

 nation that on letting go of the ladder its lower end 

 instantly rose to a height of some 7 feet from the 

 floor, and it was not until one remembered that the 

 weight of the next man would again bring it within 

 reach, that the feeling of alarm was relieved. The light 



175 



