2 report — 1877. 



A. N. Johnson, W. H. Johnson, J. T. Bough, F. L. Latham (Bombay), A. S. 

 Lukin, C. A. Merman, S. Morse, J. Nield, P. H. Nind, W. W. Phillips, J. 

 Sivewright, J. Steele, L. Tetlow, A. Tylor, P. P. Walker, J. Whitehead, F. R. 

 Wolfe, W. Wolfe, and C. L. Wollcy. 



The Bears Den.— The Chamber termed " The Bear's Den " by the Bev. 

 J. MacEnery measures about 67 feet in length, from north to south nearly, 

 from 8 to 38 feet in width, and from 8 to 15 feet in height, the last dimen- 

 sion being measured, as everywhere else in the Cavern, from the bottom of 

 the excavation. The limestone roof is extremely rugged, fretted, and water- 

 worn. The "Lake"* opens out of the north-eastern corner of the Den, 

 and nearly opposite, in the western wall, is the eastern mouth of the " Great 

 Oven" t. On the same side as, and immediately south of, the latter opening 

 is a vast boss of stalagmite, which the (Superintendents of the work have 

 preserved intact. 



This boss is crowded with inscriptions, most of which are, unfortunately, 

 difficult to decipher, partly because they cross one another, and also becauso 

 they are much scratched, apparently by the nailed shoes of visitors. The 

 following, however, have been distinctly made out : — ■ 



1. " William Pctre, 1571." 



2. « A. T., 1662." 



3. " I. Bertie, 1706 " (in a rude segment of a circle, of which the chord is 

 8'5 inches, and the height 5 - 5 inches). 



4. " I. B., 1706 " (in a rectangular figure, 2 x 1"5 inches). 



5. " A. Chard, 1817." 

 6 " B. D., 1822." 



7. < : W. Crew." 



8. " S. Crocker." 



9. " F. Davy." (In lotters 6 inches high, produced apparently with a series 

 of blows with a pointed hammer. The last letter is Y by inference only. 

 Its place is occupied by a triangle placed thus — V , formed by the complete 

 removal of a thin lamina of the stalagmite. This removal was probably 

 accidental, and caused with the unintentional effect of the blows of the hammer 

 in the attempt to form the Y.) 



10. " Anton Hay." 



11. " Dauid More " (in engrossed letters). 



12. " John Skinner." 



13. " F. D." (within a heart-shaped figure, measuring 5-5 inches from the 

 indent to the point opposite, and 5 inches in greatest breadth). 



14. " W. B." 



15. " W. E." 



There is also a date belonging to the second decade of the 17th century, 

 but to what precise year cannot bo determined, as the right or units numeral 

 is not decipherable. All that can be made out is 161 [?]. 



No. 1 is of considerable interest on two accounts : — 



First. The date, 1571, is, so far as is at present known, the earliest in the 

 Cavern, and the only one belonging to tho 16th century. 



Second. Its genuineness can scarcely be doubted, as it is known that there 

 were at the period in question two natives of South Devon named William 



* See R?port Brit, Assoc. 1869, pp. 186-0. 

 t Ibid. 1375, p. 12 ; and 1876, pp. 2-3. 



