Chap. 16.] Calcareous fungftem. 6t 



9, Calcareous earth is found faturateu with what wai 

 thought a particular acidj which has been called the 



tungftenic 



fented a kind of petrified grove ; feme white, forne green ; and all 

 receding in due perfpe&ive. They flruck us with the more 

 amazement, as we knew them to be mere productions of nature, 

 who, hitherto in folitttde, had, in her playful moments, drefled th 

 cene, is if for her cwa amufeinent. 



' But we had as yet fecn but a few of the wonders of the place;, 

 and we were introduced only into the portico of this amazing 

 temple. In one corner of this half illuminated recefs, there ap- 

 peared an opening of about three feet wide, which feemed to lead 

 to a place totally dark, and that one of the natives affured us ecu-' 

 tamed nothing more than a refervoir of water. Upon this w* 

 ' tried, by throwing down feme Acnes, which rumbling .along the 

 fides of the defcent for fome time, the found feemed at laft quaflied 

 in a bed of water. In order, however, to be more certain, we fent 

 in a Levantine mariner, who by the promife of a good reward, 

 with a flambeaux in his hand, ventured into this narrow aperture. 

 After continuing within it for about a quarter of an hour, he re- 

 turned, bringing fome beautiful pieces of white- {par in his hand, 

 vthkh art could neither imitate nor equal. Upon being informed 

 by him that -the place was full of thefe beautiful incruftations, I 

 ventured in once more with him, for about fifty paces, anxioufly 

 and cautioufly defcending by a tfeep and dangerous way. Find- 

 ing, however, that we came to a precipice which led into a <fpa- 

 cious amphitheatre, if I may fo call it, Mill deeper than any other 

 part, we returned, and being provided with a ladder, flambeaux, 

 and other things to expedite our defcent, our whole company, man 

 by man, ventured into the fame opening, and defcending one after 

 another, we at laft faw ourfelves all together in the moU; magnificent 

 part of the cavern. 



' Oar candles being now all lighted up, and the whole place 

 completely illuminated, never could the eye be prefented with a 

 more glittering, or a more magnificent fcene. The roof all hung 

 with folid icicles, tranfparent as glafs, yet folid as marble. The 

 eye could fcarce reach the lofcy and noble ceiling; the fides were 

 regularly formed with fpars ; and the whole prefented the idea of 

 a magnificent theatre, illuminated with an immenfe profufion of 

 :< The floor confifted of folid marble ; and in 'feveral places, 

 magnificent columns, thrones, altars, and other objects appeared, 



