Hill, Brodeick, and Rulk — The Mitchehtoivn Caves. 251 



through a narrow opening leads into a long, straight, and level passage, which 

 finally brings you into Gust's Cave. This is, without doubt, the prettiest 

 chamber in the whole cavern. Being comparatively inaccessible, its glories 

 have been preserved from intruders who might otherwise have deprived it of 

 many of its beauties, Eoughly square in shape, it has depending from its 

 roof a perfect forest of delicate pipe-stem stalactites, which can be matched 

 by nought else in the whole cavern. But what challenges one's whole atten- 

 tion is a magnificent stalactite, 2| feet in length, which is in process of 

 active formation. Separated by a distance of only 2 feet from its huge base 

 of terraced stalagmite, over which water drips incessantly, it presents to the 

 beholder a most striking picture of the formation of underground scenery. 

 The accurate measurements of its dimensions, taken in September, 1908, 

 will, it is hoped, form the basis for reference as to its rate of enlargement in 

 future years. 



Turning to the left, and skirting a mass of boulders, you enter another 

 of those long, straight, and level passages for which this cavern is remarkable. 

 To the right (east) lies a series of right-angled vaults which end blindly, 

 and are devoid of interest ; but going west, and traversing a long rift, you 

 reach a point known as the Eabbit-hole, — a well-deserved name. A great 

 boulder bars the way to the beyond, leaving on its right side a narrow 

 funnel, 21 inches high and 15 wide. Bent at a right-angle the average-sized 

 man can just squeeze through and round this opening — truly no place for the 

 obese. The welcome relief afforded by the contrast of a chamber 6 feet high 

 awaits you after these struggles. 



Bending to the right you next skirt a fine stalactite pillar, and emerge 

 into the southern end of Sadlier's Cave, which may be entered at either a 

 high or low level, a suspended stalagmite floor bridging over the latter 

 way. In front of you is another stalactite column, the Sentinel, guarding 

 the entrance to a shaft known as the Bedchamber, which marks the 

 junction with Eoute IV. Hence a turn to the left brings you back in a 

 few minutes down a rocky slope to your starting-point in the House of 

 Commons. 



Length of Passages in Route II, 

 Main passages : — 



Junction with Eoute I. near O'Leary's Chimney (c) 



to Cust's Cave, 104 yards. 



Cust's Cave to Eabbit-hole, . . . . . 46 „ 

 Eabbit-hole to Sentinel, . . . . . 59 „ 



^09 „ 



Side passages, . . . . . . . . 128 „ 



B. I, A. PROC, VOL. XXVII., SECT. B. [2 P] 



