224 



CAVERNS. 



and on the almost perpendicular side of a lime- 

 stone hill, which rises in the midst of this wooded 

 valley, the rocks partially scattered with herbage, 

 shrubs, and stunted casuarina-trees, is the en- 

 trance to a spacious cavern ; there are others 

 of smaller size sprinkled about different parts 

 of the same mass of limestone, but this seems 

 to be the most spacious ; they were originally 

 pointed out by the natives to the overseer of 

 the farm, but were first explored by Mr. Button, 

 and some friends. 



The day after our arrival we visited the cave, 

 taking materials to produce a light, by which 

 we might explore these recesses with more fa- 

 cility. The approach to this cavern is through 

 a thick jungle of grass, reeds, veronica, fern 

 brake, {Pteris,) &c. : much caution is required, 

 more particularly when on horseback, on ac- 

 count of the number of wombat burrows which 

 abound about the spot. A slight ascent brought 

 us to the spacious and lofty entrance into which 

 the horses were easily led, and conveniently 

 stabled ; this may be truly said to form the 

 waiting-hall for admission into the two ranges 

 of chambers which branch off in different di- 

 rections, as seen in the accompanying diagram 

 of a supposed section. 



