242 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



best explain the configuration of this huge cavern. Taking as a base-line 

 the rough track across the centre of the floor, let us consider in order 

 the upward and downward slopes. 



Tlie TJ'pward Slope. — Starting from the fractured stalactite, the cave 

 immediately opens out to a distance of more than 50 feet, whilst the 

 height increases. This bay is succeeded by a long, narrow rift extending 

 in a northerly direction for nearly 30 yards. This rift contains on its 

 walls many inscriptions of the names of former explorers, particularly about 

 1818, It is also noticeable for the devastation that has been caused to 

 the stalactites by the curiosity-mongers of the "famine period," who have 

 wrought incalculable and insensate mischief upon everything within reach. 

 Even now splinters and masses of disregarded calcite litter the floor, 

 showing how urgent was their need and how violent their greed. 



The way beyond the entrance to this rift is twofold. The obvious path, 

 to avoid the steep and slippery slope extending below, leads through two 

 small circular windows, which can be negotiated only with difiiculty owing 

 to their narrowness. But a more comfortable and commodious path is 

 to be obtained by an abrupt turn to the left round a mass of rock and 

 then a sharp wheel to the right. Past this obstruction the upper wall 

 opens out again into another bay of considerable size, whose floor consists 

 of clay and boulders cemented together with stalagmite. This bay gradually 

 contracts downwards, until it meets with the dead-end wall forming the 

 termination of the chamber. 



The Downward Slope.— IvavaQdiiSiiQly below the fractured stalactite, 50 feet 

 down the slope, lies a pool of still clear water whose depth it is impossible to 

 estimate owing to the inclination of both floor and roof. At this point these 

 are but 2 feet apart, and as the trend of the slope is towards the south 

 and thus away from the observer, it is impossible to ascertain how far this 

 prolongation extends. 



The difiiculties of access to this so-called "Eiver" are great, owing to the 

 steepness of the declivity and the slipperiness of the clay which covers it. 

 Reference to the sketch-plan will show that descents were made at four 

 difierent points. As in every instance the explorer had to be lowered and 

 hauled up again by means of a rope, it will be understood that any 

 detailed description is in such circumstances impossible. Suffice it to say 

 that distinct pools of deep water were found in five places at the bottom of 

 this slope, though whether there is any actual physical connexion between 

 these pools it is impossible to say. That such a connexion does exist 

 is extremely probable. The level of the water is about 130 feet below the 



