198 REPORT— 1873. 



Ninth Report of the Committee for Explorirtff Kent's Cavern, Devon- 

 shire, the Committee consisting of Sir Charles Lyell^ Bart., 

 F.R.S., Professor Phillips, F.R.S., Sir John Lubbock, Bart., 

 F.R.S., John Evans, F.R.S., Edward Vivian, M.A., George 

 Busk, F.R.S., William Boyd Dawkins, F.R.S., William Aysh- 

 roRD Sanford, F.G.S., awe? William Pengelly, F.R.S. (Reporter.) 



The Committee, in opening this their Ninth Eeport, have to state that, since 

 reporting at Brighton in 1872, the work has been continued without inter- 

 mission, in the manner observed at the commencement. They have to add 

 that whilst it is still conducted, under the Superintendents, by the same 

 foreman (George Smerdon), the second workman (John Farr), believing that 

 the Cavern work was prejudicial to his health, has obtained other employ- 

 ment. Though reluctant to part with so satisfactory a workman, who had 

 faithfully served them for upwards of five years, the Superintendents felt un- 

 able to press him to remain under the circumstances ; and they had the satis- 

 faction of engaging in his stead a man (John Cliunick) who has proved most 

 efficient and trustworthy. 



As in former years, the cavern has been visited by a large number of 

 persons, none of whom, when conducted by the guide only, has been allowed 

 to be taken to the excavations then in progress. The Superintendents have 

 had the pleasure of accompanying the following gentlemen during their 

 visits : — Major-General R. C. Schenck, Minister for the United States of 

 America to England ; Lord Chiford, of Chudleigh ; Sir R. Anstruther, Bart., 

 M.P. ; Bev. Lord Charles Hervey, Rev. G. Butterworth, Rev. Dr. Hanna, 

 Rev. C. N. Kelly, Rev. R. Locker, Rev. T. R. R. Stebbing ; Major-General 

 Huyshe, Captain Lovett, Professor W. X. Clifford, Dr. B. Collenette, Professor 

 W. King, Dr. R. Martin, Dr. W. Sharpey, Dr. Topham, Dr. C. Williams, of 

 Burmah ; Mens. "Wyvekens, of Brussels ; and Messrs. A. T. Atchison, W. 

 Babington, N". Bell, of Queensland, C. A. Bentinek, L. B. Bowring, W. BuUer, 

 E. L. Corring, of V. S. America, J. A. Curtis, R. D. Darbishire, J. M. Dowie, 



B. J. M. Donne, E. A. Field, S. Gurncy, C. W. Hamilton, H. W. Haynes, of 

 Boston, U. S., C. Sabapathi Jyah, of Madras, J. H. van Lennep, of Holland, 



C. Lister, P. C. Lovett, C. Meenacshaya, of Madras, P. H. Mills, A. G. Nathorst, 

 of Lund, Sweden, P. Nind, A. Nesbit, A. Pengelly, of N.W.P. India, H. C. M. 

 Phillips, C. H. Poingdestre, F. P. Purvis, T. Rathbone, Dr. Richardson, R. B. 

 Shaw, British Commissioner, Ladak, J. H. Taunton, P. Watts, and J. E. Wolfe. 



A. R. Hunt, Esq., M.A., F.G.S., being about to assist in exploring a small 

 cave on the coast of Kirkcudbright, visited the cavern in August 1873, for 

 the purpose of studying the mode of working. 



As in former years, live rats have been observed from time to time in 

 various parts of the cavern. As soon as they are seen, the workmen, having 

 frequently suffered from such visits, set gins for them, and sometimes succeed 

 in taking three or four in a week. On one occasion four (two old and 

 two young ones) were found in the gin together. The adults were the 

 extremes of the series, and, being caught by the neck, were dead ; whilst the 

 others were held near the middle, and still alive. Though most prevalent 

 near the entrances of the cavern, they have been frequently observed far in 

 the interior ; and very recently they carried off a candle from a spot fully 

 300 feet from the nearest entrance. 



TJie Long Arcade. — The Committee stated in their last Report, bringing the 

 work up to the end of July 1872, that they were then exploring the branch 



