bF NATURAL HISTORY. " StS 



labyrinth, which extends a foot or more in diameter from 

 the royal chamber on every fide. Here the nurferies and 

 magazines of provifions begin ; and, being feparated by fmall 

 empty chambers and galleries, which furround them, and 

 communicate with each other, are continued on all fides to 

 the outward fliell, and reach up within it two thirds or three- 

 fourths of its height, leaving an open area in the middle 

 under the dome, which refembles the nave of an old cathe- 

 dral. This area is furrounded by large Gothic arches, which 

 are fometimes two or three feet high next the front of the 

 area, but diminifh rapidly as they recede, like the arches of 

 aifles in perfpectives, and are foon loft among the innumera^ 

 ble chambers and nurferies behind them. All thefe cham- 

 bers and pafTages are arched, and contribute mutually to fup- 

 port one another. The interioiir building, or afTemblage of 

 nurferies, chambers, and paflages, has a flattifh roof without 

 any perforation. By this contrivance, if, by accident, water 

 fhould penetrate the external dome, the apartments below 

 are preferved from injury. The area has alfo a flattilh floor, 

 which is fituated above the royal chamber. It Is likewife 

 water proof, and fo conflrudted, that, if water gets admit* 

 tance, it runs ofF by fubterraneous pafTages, which are of an 

 aftonifhing magnitude. < 1 meafured one of them,' fays Mn 

 Smeathman, < which was perfectly cylindrical, and thirteen 

 < Inches in diameter.' Thefe fubterraneous pafTages are thick* 

 ly lined with the fame kind of clay of which the hill is com* 

 pofed, afcend the internal part of the external fhell In a fpi* 

 rat form, and, winding round the whole building up to the 

 top, interfedt and communicate with each other at different 

 heights. From every part of thefe large galleries a number 

 of pipes, or fmaller galleries, leading to different apartments 

 of the building, proceed. There are hkewife a great many 

 which lead downward, by floping defcents, three and fouf 



feet perpendicular under ground, among the gravel, from 



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