52 THE MAMMOTH CAVE. 
ment was slower; and where clay occurs, the 
water was almost or quite stationary. 
“Atone time the water rushed with great force 
through Fat Man’s Misery, for in Great Relief, 
which is just beyond, washed gravel occurs ; 
still farther, sand is found, which is succeeded - 
by clay: showing that the current was in the 
_ direction of Echo River. Before the mechanical 
agency could have exerted any appreciable influ- 
ence, the chemical must have been in operation 
for thousands of ages. 
“The loose rocks that are scattered on the 
floors of many of the avenues have fallen from 
the walls and ceiling, but in many instances the 
points from which they were detached are indis- 
tinct, from the fact that the rugged surface from 
which they have fallen is either smoothed by 
the action of water, or covered by crystals of 
the carbonate or sulphate -of lime. | 
“In those parts of the Cave where no rocks - 
have fallen, the floor presents the appearance of 
the bed of a river, and is covered with gravel, 
sand, or clay, according to the rapidity of the 
flow of the water at the time of the deposit. 
‘Visitors need feel no apprehension or alarm 
in reference to falling rocks, for none have fallen 
since the discovery of the Cave.” 
