THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 129 



is perhaps not quite so beautiful or nearly so extensive as the 

 other branch, but still contains many beauties ; in fact, the finest 

 shawls are in the " Lucinda Cave." These it was long before we 

 could leave, the formation being apparently so wonderful j then 

 more " mysteries" — how water can crystallize in a horizontal posi- 

 tion, or twist and curl, is beyond my powers of thought. Here 

 was a beautifully draped window, the curtains being worked in 

 solid limestone, " brides' veils," " The Madonna and Child," a 

 statuette of pure white, and many other beautiful sights. But I 

 must hurry on, or you will be tired of my paper. We finished our 

 exploration of the caves with a visit to the " underground river," 

 which properly belongs to the right branch. This is reached by 

 descending a well-like opening on a rope ladder some 40 feet 

 long. At the bottom flows a clear stream, reflecting on its 

 unruffled surface the arching roof and hanging stalactites above 

 it. Fish were seen here (these are not sightless, as many cave 

 fish are said to be), though no fish are found in the creek below 

 the caves. Attempts have been made to explore this under- 

 ground stream, but the roof and floor approach so closely in some 

 places that it is impossible to get along. This morning we had a 

 lady in the party, who was deterred by nothing, and even visited 

 the underground river. 



Our time for departure was now at hand, and, packing up our 

 luggage, we made our way for the last time through the Grand 

 Arch, to the buggy waiting for us on the Mount Victoria-road, 

 and soon started on our 36-mile drive, and bade adieu to the 

 Jenolan Caves. The commencement of this road is a splendid 

 piece of siding, and for five miles gradually ascends the side of 

 the range, making many sharp curves, until it reaches the crest of 

 the main divide, where, near Mount Binda, one side of the road 

 drains to the Pacific Ocean, the other to the Murray and Southern 

 Ocean. About here the track to Katoomba branched off to our 

 right. Our road was a good bush track, and our pair of horses 

 made very light work of it. At many places we obtained fine 

 views of the surrounding country, especially as we approached the 

 valley of the River Cox. Crossing this we were soon in the long 

 ago named Vale of Clwydd, and travelled along the old Bathurst- 

 road, through the old town of Hartley, the scene of many a stirring 

 sight in bullock-team days, but now almost deserted. We now 

 came to the Victoria Pass, a famous road made by Sir Thomas 

 Mitchell and his convict gangs over fifty years ago. It will take 

 us long to forget the beautiful effects produced by the setting sun 

 on the rocky sides of Mount York and the Kanimbla Valley — 

 scenes which would require the brush of an artist to do them 

 justice, and even then the colours used might be thought unnatural 

 by a large number of persons. This road should certainly be 

 traversed by every visitor to Mount Victoria, and as it is not two 



