a2 THE MAMMOTH CAVE. 
development of caution, he might be apprehen- | 
sive of a sudden disappearance of the stage- 
coach into the bowels of the earth. 
There are several caves in this vicinity, 
—namely, Proctor’s Cave, about three miles in 
length; White’s Cave, Diamond Cave, and the 
Indian Cave, each of which is about one mile 
in length. 
The Indian Cave opens directly on the stage- 
route; and, as the coaches halt sufficiently long 
to give visitors an opportunity of examining it, 
we embraced® the occasion for preparing our 
senses, in this minor cave, for witnessing the 
stupendous curiosities yet in store for us. An 
exceedingly loquacious young man acted as our 
guide. He stated that he discovered the Cave 
himself, six years previously, and was joint 
proprietor with his father, who lived near by. 
The ingress to this Cave is quite difficult. 
The descent from the road to the mouth of the 
Cave is almost perpendicular, and the distance 
is about one hundred feet. The mouth itself 
consists of a circular passage about three feet in 
diameter, and eight feet deep. The descent is 
made at this point by the aid of rude wooden 
steps. In answer to an inquiry why greater 
conveniences for entrance were not provided, we 
od 
