on his Visit to Australia .



75



throughout the whole of this subterranean fairyland its bewilder¬

ing beauties can only be adequately appreciated by those who

have had the good fortune to be able to examine for themselves

these exquisite specimens of Nature’s handiwork. The most

prominent features that claim attention are: (i) “ The Eagle’s

Wings,” two huge formations which have a most striking resem¬

blance to an eagle with slightly raised wings perched on an

immense boulder ; (2) “ The Tree,” a marvellous little stalagmite

about three feet in height, with twig-like projections of lateral

stalactites growing in a complete circle, the very semblance of

a young tree throwing out its branches ; (3) “The Cathedral and

Organ Pipes,” the latter of which not only resemble an organ in

form, but on being struck by the hand fill the cavern with clear,

melodious notes of a particularly unique and weird sound ; and

(4), last but not least, this cave possesses “ The Mammoth Shawl,”

which, with its artistically blended colours, hangs gracefully

between two walls, with a careless-looking fold in the centre, its

edges being most delicately and beautifully scalloped.”


A drive of a mile and a half brought us to the entrance of

“ The Lake Cave,” which is considered the most beautiful cave

that has yet been explored. To enter it one has first to descend

into an enormous hollow in the ground, which has been formed,

long ago, by the subsidence of part of the roof of the cave. This

great circular pit, some acres in extent, is over 300 feet in depth,

the sides being sheer cliffs. Ferns and other vegetation grow

luxuriantly in this hollow, and several huge Karri trees, whose

highest branches reach to about the surrounding ground level,

Kangaroos and Wallabies occasionally fall into this huge hole,

and on one occasion the skeleton of a large Kangaroo was dis¬

covered, and beside it the remains of a Dingo which had evidently

been chasing the Kangaroo when both fell into this hollow.


The entrance to the cave itself is by a mere hole just large

enough for one person to descend at a time. The roof is domed,

and from it hang myriads of pure white stalactites which, when

illuminated by the magnesium lantern, present a wonderful ap¬

pearance, being reflected in the clear water of the stream which

here covers the greater part of the floor of the cave, and has

given it the name of the “Lake Cave.” In the middle of the



