THE MAMMOTH CAVE. 39 



openings in the ordinary cane-seated chair, about 

 half an inch in depth, and arranged in regular 

 lines. This rock, we are informed, was exca- 

 vated near the Cave about twenty years ago. 

 No explanation was offered as to the probable 

 cause of the perforations, but we were left to 

 infer, from their perfect regularity, that they 

 were produced by human agency. Perhaps some 

 rude Indian artist, hundreds of years ago, is 

 entitled to the credit of exciting our curiosity 

 at the present day. 



We learned at the hotel that the Mammoth 

 Cave and the Cave Hotel belonged jointly to 

 nine or ten parties, to whom it had been devised 

 by its former proprietor. Dr. Crogan, for a period 

 of ninety-nine years. Only about twenty-five 

 years of the time have yet expired. 



It seems to be regarded by the public as an 

 unfortunate disposition of the property, that so 

 many parties should be concerned in the owner- 

 ship. Owing to their diverse views, the Cave 

 travel is not so easy nor so agreeable to visitors 

 as it might be made with trifling expenditure. 

 It is said that some of the proprietors are 

 anxious to do one thing, some another, and 

 some nothing. Being unable to agree, nothing 

 is done; and visitors are compelled to undergo 



