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 Avas 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. 



