190 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



The roof at the Junction reaches the respectable height of at least 50 feet. 

 A rather remarkable fact was noticed at this pomt : several photographs 

 were taken by flash-light in various parts of the cave, and, as is usually the 

 case, the smoke hung about for a long time. At the Junction, however, all 

 the smoke found an exit through a hole in the roof, leaving the cave clear in 

 less than two minutes. 



From the Junction, the stream turns to the left and flows between large 

 boulders. The water here is fairly deep in places, and would readily float 

 such a boat as Martel employed. By careful scrambling a way can be made 

 along the right-hand side of the stream for a distance of 44 yards. At this 

 point, however, the stream fills the whole width of the passage, and forms a 

 lake 40 yards long, with a depth in the centre of at least 10 feet. This portion 

 of the cave ranges from 15 to 20 feet in width, while the roof is some 15 feet 

 above the level of the water. This lake ends at a sandy beach which is, in the 

 ordinary course, reached from the large open pot-hole (C, Plate XII.) by way 

 of a short passage, and a drop of some 10 feet. Previous to Martel's ^isit, it 

 is probable that no one had attempted the river. On the occasion of our first 

 visit only two members, with considerable discomfort to themselves, worked 

 their way along the walls of the river at times up to their waists in water. As 

 the water in the centre of the passage seemed to be very deep, great care was 

 exercised on this occasion, the two members being roped together with a 2 5 -foot 

 interval. After getting past this point, two hours were occupied in a careful 

 exploration of the cave, all the parts being ^isited, with the exception of the 

 passage beyond the pool-chamber, the entrance to which is hidden behind 

 large boulders- One further reason why this was missed was that the 

 explorers were by this time tired and cold, having been wet through for so long. 

 On the way back one of the two slipped on the rock-ledge and fell overhead 

 into the deep water, having to swim out. On the second occasion one member 

 of the party stripped and swam through with a measuring-cord for the purpose 

 of completing the survey. On the occasion of our second visit, however, two 

 entirely unsuspected routes into the cave above the lake were discovered, as 

 will be explained later. At the sandy beach the stream, now only a few 

 inches deep, spreads out, and flows past and under boulders into a further lake, 

 the sides of which can be reached either from pot-hole E or D. At this lowest 

 point the water of this lake flows under a curtain of rock and emerges into the 

 daylight immediately above the Marble Arch itself. This last is a natural 

 limestone bridge some 30 feet in height. The stream flows under it, and after 

 that, although offering many and great beauties to the lover of nature, the 

 Cladagh Eiver is of no interest to the speleologist. 



To return now to the Junction. The right hand (X.E.) passage starts 

 about 20 feet wide and 15 feet high. Its roof rapidly rises ; while at a 



