THE MAMMOTH CAVE. 67 
walls, floor, and ceiling of which bear evidence 
that it was once the channel of running water. 
This Pit is ninety feet deep, and at its widest 
part about twenty feet across. 
About twenty feet to the left of the Side- 
Saddle Pit is situated Minerva’s Dome. It is 
fifty feet in height, and ten in width. It is 
a miniature representation of Gorin’s Dome, 
hereafter to be noticed. The Dome and Pit 
have been cut out of the solid rock by the sol- 
vent action of water containing carbonic acid in 
solution. They are still enlarging. 
The aperture leading to the Pit presents the 
outlines of a lady’s saddle;. hence the name. 
We next arrive at the brink of the Bottom- 
less Pit. The very name causes us to shrink 
with terror; but we are presently reassured by 
finding it to be a misnomer. The Pit, which 
_ doubtless appeared bottomless to the first discov- 
erers, if we credit Mr. Horace Martin, has since 
been found to be but one hundred and seventy- 
five feet in depth. 
The Bottomless Pit was formerly the limit of 
excursions in this direction. It was not until 
the year 1838, we are informed, that any trav- 
eler ever passed beyond this frightful chasm. In 
that year the Pit, as has been stated in Mr. 
