THE MAMMOTH CAVE. 
CHAPTER IL. 
INTRODUCTION. 
Ir is our purpose to describe, from our own 
observations made in the spring of 1867, and 
from the observations of others, that grand and 
weird cavern known as the Mammoth Cave of 
Kentucky,—a wonder of its kind, unequaled in 
America or in the world,—within whose sub- 
lime portals travelers have confessed the most 
profound awe at entrance, and the greatest rap- 
ture when its glorious mysteries were made visi- 
ble to them. 
We did not make the visit with the view of 
informing the public what was to be seen, but 
simply for the purpose of gratifying our indi- 
vidual curiosity. 
Finding the object to be one of greater magni- 
tude than was anticipated, it occurred to us, as an 
after-thought, that a short sketch might interest 
a friend at home. In executing this intention, 
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