THE MAMMOTH CAVE. 113 



rock, than he cried out, on bended knees and 

 with uplifted hands, 'The Holy Sepulchre! The 

 Holy Sepulchre!'" 



Continuing our advance, we next arrived at a 

 point of great interest, — a locality that had been 

 anxiously inquired for for more than an hour 

 previously to reaching it, — Washington Hall — 

 the place of dining. 



Dr. Wright says that this Hall is generally 

 reached between twelve and one o'clock ; but 

 our party, being composed of slow travelers, and 

 of persons anxious to see at leisure everything 

 of interest, did not arrive at the Hall until half- 

 past two. The following are Bayard Taylor's 

 impressions of the dining apartment : 



" Mounting for a short distance, this new 

 avenue suddenly turned to the left, widened, and 

 became level. The ceiling is low, but beautifully 

 vaulted, and Washington's Hall, which we soon 

 reached, is circular, and upwards of one hundred 

 feet in diameter. This is the usual dining-room 

 of parties who go beyond the rivers. Nearly 

 five hours had now elapsed since we entered the 

 Cave, and five hours spent in that bracing, 

 stimulating atmosphere might well justify the 

 longing glances which we cast upon the baskets 

 carried by the guides. Mr. Miller [the then 



10* 



