72 THE MAMMOTH CAVE. 



hams and slioulders suspended from the ceiling, 

 as in a smoke-house. They were formed by the 

 solvent action of water charged with carbonic 

 acid, at the time when the lower portion of them 

 rested against a stratum of rock which has since 

 been detached. 



The avenue which leads to the Mammoth 

 Dome and Sparks' Avenue takes its orighi in 

 the Bacon Chamber. 



About forty feet below the terrace which 

 leads to the Natural Bridge is a body of water, 

 fifteen feet deep, twenty wide, and fifty feet jn 

 length, termed the Dead Sea. It is quite as 

 gloomy, we are told, as its celebrated name- 

 sake. Mr. Martin says, " The name so awful 

 and so referable to awful events cannot be 

 better illustrated than here. There is a terrible 

 grandeur in the place. Long after you have left 

 it, the mind's eye continues cognizant of its many 

 sights, the ear of its many sounds. The mem- 

 ory holds them, and they ever haunt the dreams 

 of night." 



When this part of the Cave was first dis- 

 covered, the Dead Sea was passed on the terrace 

 over its left bank;- this passage, however, was 

 attended with great danger. 



By a curious anomaly, our teachings in 



