JAMAICA. 



After providing ouiTelves with feveral bundles of candlewood, fplit 

 in fmall pieces, we crept on our hands and knees under the larger 

 of the two apertures in the front of the rock, and immediately 

 found ourfelves in a circular veftibule, of about eighteen feet di- 

 ameter, and fourteen in height. The deling (an irregular con- 

 cave), as well as the fides, was covered with ftaladlic and 

 fparry matter, interfperfed with innumerable gliftenjng particles, 

 which, refleding the light of our torches from their poliHied fur- 

 face, exhibited the mofl rich and fplendid appearance imagi- 

 nable. 



This roof feemed to be fupported by feveral columns of the fame 

 matter, concreted by length of time ; whofe chaptrels, and the 

 angular arches above, appeared in the true Gothic tallc. The pillars 

 furrounded the veftibulc ; the open fpaces between them led into 

 avenues which diverged away into different parts of this fubterra- 

 neous labyrinth. On one fide we obferved a rock, which, by the 

 continual dripping of water upon it from the cieling, was covered 

 with an incruftation, and bore a very ftriking refemblance of fomc 

 venerable old hermit, fitting in profound meditation, wrapped in a 

 flowing robe, his arms folded, and a beard defcending to his waift:. 

 The head appeared bald, and the forehead wrinkled with age. No- 

 thing was wanted to complete the figure, except the addition of 

 features, which we immediately fupplied, in the theatric manner, 

 with a piece of charcoal. The graceful, eafy folds and plaits of 

 the drapery, and the wavy flow of the beard, were remarkably 

 well expreffed. Roubilliac, the rival of nature, could not have 

 executed them in a more finiflied and maflerly flyle. After we had 

 fufficiently contemplated this reverend perfonage, we purfued our 

 route through one of the largeft adits. We found the paffage every 

 where of good height, in general from twelve to fifteen feet ; but 

 fo totally excluded from day-light, that the gloom, together with 

 the hollow found of our trampling, and difmal echo of our voices, 

 recalled to our minds the well-imagined defcription of ^Eneas's de- 

 fcent into the infernal regions. And this idea fo Itrongly pofleffed 

 us, that, in the enthufiafm of poetic delufion, we expeded no lefs, 

 at every turn, than to pop upon Cerberus, or fome other horrid in- 

 habitant of Pluto's dominion : 



Sj>L'lunca 



