Ch. YI.] sandstone OAVEEN. 87 



selves into this cleft, and crept along it with difficulty for 

 70 or 80 yards. One stoutish gentleman of our party fairly 

 stuck in the middle, and was only hauled out with difficulty 

 by the combined efforts of a blue-jacket before and behind. 

 This fissure was very damp, and at length terminated in a 

 small irregular chamber, beyond which we could see no 

 passage. Its proportions were well seen by the aid of the 

 magnesium light, which so illuminated the vault, that the 

 gentleman before mentioned, who was wedged in midway, 

 flattered himself that if he could once get out of his difficulty 

 he should find himself in broad daylight. 



While examining the walls by the aid of this light, I found 

 they were tenanted by some spiders and crickets, of the 

 •latter of which I with some difficulty secured specimens. 

 They proved on examination to possess perfect eyes, although 

 the place is of course totally dark ; and it is therefore to be 

 concluded that they had simply crept in from the exterior, 

 though what could be the inducement, or upon what they 

 subsisted, it is difficult to imagine — for the rocky walls were 

 perfectly bare, and the whole intervening distance was drip- 

 ping with water. Returning to the main cavern, I was curious 

 to see if they also existed there ; and at the extremity of this 

 I also discovered the crickets upon the damp wall. 



On either side of the harbour are several villages, inha- 

 bited by a poor fishing population. These villages give 

 a lively aspect to the spot. One of them, close to the mouth 

 of the cavern, being near the landing-place, we often visited, 

 and soon became acquainted with the entire population, 

 whom we employed in collecting shells, &c. Had the dis- 

 trict been a rich one in these commodities, we should doubt- 

 less soon have made a good collection, for the younger part 

 of the community, both boys and girls, soon found that they 



