370 Ball's Cave. 



amphitheatre, there existed a low and narrow aperture, through 

 which a small stream issued. The opening above the surface of the 

 water was only fourteen inches high ; but its dimensions were seen to 

 be greater within. A boat was constructed to suit this opening, through 

 which it was pushed containing a single person in a recumbent pos- 

 ture. After a few feet, the passage enlarged enough to allow the 

 navigator to assume an upright position ; and he proceeded to the 

 distance of a quarter of a mile, the width of the passage varying 

 from, five to twenty feet. Here the water was thirty feet in depth, 

 and losing sight of the light he had left at the commencement of his 

 voyage, in consequence of a turn in the passage, he advanced in a 

 new direction for about sixty feet, when he encountered a semicir- 

 cular d^m of calcareous tufa, over which the water broke with a slight 

 ripple. Drawing his boat over the obstruction, he proceeded as be- 

 fore, when he soon met a similar barrier. In this manner he passed 

 fourteen of these dam^s, which varied in height from two to twelve 

 inches above the surface of the water. The obstructions being passed, 

 he soon reached the extremity of the water, where quitting the boat, 

 he entered a low and narrow passage, which soon became connected 

 with a spacious room, at least fifty feet square. The rock is repre- 

 sented as here passing into a kind of greywacke, in consequence of 

 which few incrustations were visible in this apartment. The floor 

 was covered by large masses of rocks, which had been apparently 

 precipitated from the roof; and the sound of a distant waterfall, was 

 heard fi"om this place. 



The foregoing sketch describes the extent of this interesting cav- 

 ern so far as it is yet known. The apartments, have been subjected 

 to examination agreeably to the method of Dr. Buckland, but with- 

 out leading to any discoveries, similar to those of the Kirkdale cav- 

 ern. In addition to the columnar and stalactitic varieties of Calca- 

 reous Spar,. Arragonite is said to have been found in some parts of 

 the cave. . . 



