PEAK CAVERNS, DERBYSHIRE. 6} 



rocks, popularly called " Roger Rain's House," from the incessant fall 

 of water through the crevices in the rocks. A little beyond this spot is 

 the entrance of another hollow, called the " Chancel." At this point 

 the rocks appear broken and dislocated, and the sides and prominent 

 parts of the cavity are incrusted with large masses of stalectite. In the 

 '' Chancel" the stranger is much surprised and impressed by hearing the 

 deathlike stillness of the place suddenly interrupted by a burst of vocal 

 music, from the upper regions of the cavern. The tones are wild and 

 discordant, but, heard in such a place, and under such circumstances, 

 produce a powerful impression. At the conclusion of the performance, 

 the singers display their torches, and eight or ten women and children 

 the inhabitants of the huts at the entrance appear ranged on a hollow 

 of the rock, about fifty or sixty feet from the ground. From the 

 " Chancel" the path leads onwards to the " Devil's Cellar," and thence 

 a gradual and somewhat rapid ascent of about one hundred and fifty feet 

 conducts to a spot called the " Halfway House." Farther on, the way 

 proceeds between three natural arches, to another vast cavity, which is 

 denominated " Great Tom of Lincoln," from its resemblance to the form 

 of a bell. A very pleasing effect is produced, when this place is illumi- 

 nated by a strong light. The arrangement of the rocks, the spiracles of 

 the roof, and the flowing stream, unite to form a scene of no common 

 interest: the distance from this spot to the termination of the entire hollow 

 is not considerable. The vault gradually descends, the passage contracts, 

 and at last nearly closes, leaving only sufficient room for the passage of the 

 water, which appears to have a communication with the distant mines 

 of the Peak Forest. The entire length of this wonderful cavern is 750 

 yards, and its depth 207 yards. It is wholly formed of limestone strata, 

 which abound in marine exuviae, and occasionally exhibit an intermixture 

 of chert. Some communications with other fissures open from different 

 parts of the cavern, but none of them are comparable to it in extent and 

 appearance. In general, the access to the cavern is easy, but in very wet 

 weather it cannot be explored, as it is then nearly filled with water, whieh 

 rises to a considerable height even at the entrance. In the inner part of 

 the cavern a singular effect is produced by the explosion of a small 

 quantity of gunpowder, when inserted in a crevice of the rock. The 

 report seems to roll along the roof and sides, like a heavy and continuous 

 peal of thunder. 



