APPENDIX. 243 



top of which is a large grotto, so neatly 

 formed by nature that art could scarcely 

 have excelled it. This grotto was repre- 

 sented to me as quite inaccessible, and it 

 was said that not more than two or three 

 persons had ever been there ; nor was it 

 without great difficulty that I prevailed on 

 two men to accompany me, every body 

 deeming the project impracticable. As we 

 climbed up towards it, we sometimes crept 

 forwards, sometimes slid back again. Now 

 we mounted a considerable way by catch- 

 ing hold of branches and roots of trees, 

 and then, meeting with steep inaccessible 

 jrocks, were obliged to turn back. After 

 following one of my guides for about two 

 hours, I thought the other seemed to make 

 more progress ; which induced me to go 

 .after the latter. J was scarcely got two ells 

 out of my former path, than the man whose 

 track I had left loosened a large stone with 

 his foot, which fell on the very spot I had 

 quitted, with such violence, that 1 was sur- 

 rounded by fire and smoke, and should 

 It 2 



