32 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, aboul: 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 



