50 HISTORY Of 



was seized with an unusual and violent head-ache, which threw 

 him into a fever, of which he died soon after.* 



But of all the subterranean caverns now known, the grotto of 

 Antiparos is the most remarkable, as well for its extent as fo 



• There are other caves in Great Britain, fully as remarkable as those abova 

 described. — Donnald Mill-hole, five miles N. K from Lancaster^ is a cavern 

 in the middle of a large common : the traveller is led to it by a large brook, 

 nearly as big- as the New River of London, which, after turning a corn-mill, 

 just at the entrance of the cave, runs in at its mouth by several cascades, 

 continuing its course two miles under a large mountain ; and at last makes its 

 appearance again near Cranford, a village in the road to Kendal. The en. 

 trance of this subterraneous channel has something most pleasantly horrible 

 in it : from the mill at the top you descend for about ten yards perpendicular, 

 by means of chinks in the rocks, and shrubs or trees ; the road is then al. 

 most parallel to the horizon, leading to the right a little winding, till you 

 have some hundreds of yards tliick of rocks and minerals above you. In 

 this manner we proceed, sometimes through vaults so capacious that we can- 

 not see either roof or sides, and sometimes we have to crawl on our hands 

 and feet, from its narrowness ; still following the brook, which has a con. 

 tinned murmiu-ing harmony well suited to the place ; for the different heights 

 of its falls are so many keys of music, which is all conveyed to the ear by the 

 amazing echo, and adds greatly to the majestic horror which surrounds us. 

 The beautiful lakes formed by the brook, in the hollow parts of the cavern, 

 realize the fabulous river Styx, so famous in heathen mythology. The falls 

 from one rock to another break the rays of the candles of those who explore 

 this cavern, in such a way, that they form most curious vibrations and ap- 

 pearances upon the variegated roof. The sides, too, are not less remarkable 

 for fine colouring ; the damps, the creeping vegetables, and the seams in the 

 marble and limestone part of the rocks, make as many tints as are seen in 

 the rainbow, and are covered with a perpetual varnish from the just weeping 

 springs that trickle from the roof. The curious in grottos and cascades will 

 be much gratified by exploring this wonderful place. 



Pooler-hole is within a mile of Buxton : tlie entrance into this hole is so 

 narrow, that you most stoop to get in : but it soon widens to a broad and 

 li.fty cavity, which extends in height upwards of a quarter of a mile. Water 

 drops from the roof every where, and by the reflection of the candles, which 

 !he guides carry, exhibit a thousand imaginary figures, as lions, fonts, lan- 

 terns, organs, flitches of bacon, &c. At the farther end of this cavity is 

 Mary queen of Scots' pillar, so named after her paying this place a visit ; 

 and this is the boundary of most people's curiosity who visit this place. A 

 stream of water runs through the middle of this cavern, with a liideous noise 

 re-echoed from all sides. On the left hand side, you see, after creeping 

 through a passage of ten yards long, a chamber, where they say Poole, a fii- 

 mous robber, lived, from wliich circumstance the place is named, 



7'lie Dropping C.ive at Slams, on the east coast of Buchan, in Aberdeen. 

 Bhire, extends upwards of 200 feet under ground ; numerous drops of watef 

 ooze through the roof, passing through abed of lime, with which they ara 

 impregnated, and form fantastic incrustations or stalactites. Great (juauU. 



