THE MAMMOTH CAVE. 163 



and divided lower down into a great number of 

 small branches like the roots of trees, exhibit- 

 ing the appearance of a coral grove. Hanging 

 our lamps to the incrustations on the columns, 

 the grove of stalactites became faintly lighted 

 up, disclosing a scene of extraordinary wildness 

 and beauty. 'This is nothing to what you will 

 see on the other side of the rivers,' cries our 

 guide, smiling at our enthusiastic admiration. 

 W>th all its present beauty, this grotto is far 

 from being what it was before it was despoiled 

 and robbed some eight or nine years ago by a 

 set of vandals, who, through sheer wantonness, 

 broke many of the stalactites, leaving them 

 strewn on the floor, a disgraceful memorial of 

 their vulgar propensities and barbarian-like con- 

 duct."* 



What is called the Chief City is situated in 

 the Main Cave beyond the Rocky Pass. 



It is about two hundred feet in diameter and 

 forty in height. The floor is covered at different 

 points with piles of rock, which present the 

 appearance of the ruins of an ancient city. 



Of this, and contiguous parts of the Cave, 



* Rambles in the Mammoth Cave, during the year 1844, by a 

 Visitor, pp. 54, 55. 



