60 Sparry Grottset. [Book VI. 



of the moft laboured works of art : tranfparent co* 

 lumns, adorned with the moft beautiful and vivid 

 colours, difpofed fometimes in the form of a honey- 

 comb, fometimes in a more irregular arrangement : 

 mirrors, refle&ing the im 'ges 'of objects, tinged with 

 light fhade of the moft delicate colours, ravilh the 

 eye of the beholder. The pillars appear of various 

 forms and fizes ; fometimes arranged like a regular 

 colonnade, and fometimes difpofed with all the de- 

 lightful irregularity of nature. The ilalactites hang 

 like icicles from the lofty roofs of thefe ftioendous 

 caverns, and are reflected back by the polifhed and 

 glittering floors. Some of the moft ftriking caverns 

 of this kind are the grotto of Antiparos *, Poolers 

 liole, and Peak Hole, in Derbyfhire. 



9. Calcareous 



* The following is an account of this famous grotto, commu- 

 nicated by Magni, an Italian traveller, to the celebrated Kircher, 

 ' Having been informed (fays he) by the natives of Pares, that 

 in ihe little ifland of Antiparos, which lies about two miles from 

 tne former, a gigantic ftatue was to be feen at the mouth of a 

 cavern in that place, it was refolved that we (the French confal 

 and himfelf) fhould pay it a vifit. Jn purfuance of this refolution, 

 after we had landed on the ifland, and walked about four miles 

 through the midil of beautiful plains, and Hoping woodlands, we 

 at length came to a little hill, on the iide of which yawned a moft 

 Korrid cavern, that with its gloom ,at firlt ftruck us with terror, 

 and almoft reprefled curicfity. Recovering the firfl furprife, 

 however, we entered, boldly ; and had not proceeded above twenty 

 paces, when the fuppofed ftatue of the giant prefented itfelf to 

 our view. We quickly perceived, that what the ignorant natives 

 had been terrified at as a giant, was nothing more than a fparry 

 concretion, formed by the water dropping from the roof of the 

 cave, and by degrees hardening into a figure that their fears had 

 formed into a monfter. Incited by this extraordinary appearance, 

 w were induced to proceed ftill farther, in queft of new adven- 

 tares in this fubterranean abode. As we proceeded, new wonders 

 offered themfelves : die fpars, formed into trees and fhrubs, pre- 



iented 



