CAVE EXAMINATION IX HANTS CO., X. S. PEEST. 89 



lantern. The rest of tlie floor of the cave was covered with 

 soft mild so deep and stickv that it was almost impossible to 

 travel through it. It had evidenlv been often overflowed, cover- 

 ing the sloping surfaces as well, with a coating of mud which 

 made walking very difficult and insecure. The only dry ledges 

 were on the southwest and northwest sides penetrated by small 

 branches of the main cave. 



The cave continued to the north, but was blocked to 

 the roof in this direction by fallen rock. To the northwest 

 was a smaller branch which probably penetrated farther than 

 the others as it contained the main watercourse. I did not 

 enter it as the ascent thereto was almost vertical and I was 

 encumbered with the lantern. My guide refused to follow me 

 farther than the entrance and I could not climb it alone. His 

 conversation had been solely on ghosts and buried treasure and 

 his absence was acceptable until this point was reached. The 

 overflow from the pond, which was only 3 or 4 feet deep, was 

 through a small slanting passage on the west side which 

 descended to a lower level. The sotithern end of the cave, like 

 the northern, was piled high with debris from the roof. Most 

 of the branch passages were but from two to five feet high. 

 The main cave is nearly 200 feet long, 80 feet wide, 

 and probable 35 feet high in the centre. The annual freezing 

 and thawing continually adds to the obstructions at the mouth 

 of the cave and will in time doubtless make the entrance 

 impassable. The inhabitants of the locality tell me that within 

 their memorv the passage was larop enouo-h to walk through 

 upright. 



I was convinced that the cave in its present condition never 

 was a human habitation, though it may have been a refuge 

 from storm or a hiding place from an enemy. However, when 

 the land was higher the torrents may have kept the j)lace 

 cleaner, but just now the only places in the interior of the cave 



