28 



THE MAMMOTH CAVE. 



plored, river, and found that the main avenue terminated in a 

 dome more extensive than any that they had ever seen. What was 

 beyond this dome they could not conjecture, as they were unable 

 to enter it from the avenue. They estimate that they traveled 

 eight miles in this one avenue. I have not seen it myself. The 

 explored portions of the Cave that I have visited constitute 

 within themselves an under-ground world ; and I am satisfied that I 

 have traveled from 150 to 200 miles in the different avenues, upon 

 the Long Route especially. There is a perfect wilderness of Cave 

 that is never seen or dreamed of by visitors generally, and many 

 parts more beautiful than those ordinarily seen by parties making 

 the Long Route. I refer particularly to Marion's Avenue, Ali- 

 da's Avenue, Murdock's Pass, and out Boone's Avenue and the 

 regions of Mystic River." 



