THE YOEKSHIKE CAYES. 55 



mouths of the Mersey and the Dee are discernible, whilst the 

 glass discloses the distant peaks of the Isle of Man. Under more 

 favourable circumstances, at a future time, we hope to have the 

 pleasure of making the ascent. 



Eeturning to our conveyances, we drive back to Ingleton, 

 with the view of the Craven District outspread in the distance. 

 For the geologist Craven possesses a special interest, for it is in- 

 tersected by what he calls a ''fault," on the southern side of 

 which the limestone strata are thrown down a thousand feet. 

 Through a pouring rain we continue the drive to Clapham, in 

 order to visit the Ingieborough Cave, the deepest and most re- 

 markable of all the caves hitherto discovered in the honeycombed 

 flanks of that remarkable hill. The walk of a mile and a 

 half through the private grounds of Mr. Farrer, by the side of 

 the noble lake, with grand rocky precipices above and below, 

 would have been simply delightful, but for the constant accom- 

 paniment of " water, water everywhere," which rendered it little 

 less than a walking shower bath ; and to crown the discomfort 

 our general guide, who had not approached the cave from that 

 side before, misguided us up a stiff and slippery clay bank, which 

 landed us nowhere, and we had, disconsolately, to retrace our 

 steps. Arrived at length at the mouth of the Cave, we found 

 that the special guide of the place was already in with another 

 party, and we had to await his return, in the meanwhile, in a 

 very moderate and proper way, we tried the oft-repeated ex- 

 periment of keeping our spirits up by pouring spirits down. 



On the appearance of the guide we were admitted into the 

 precincts of the Cave by an iron gate, and each furnished with a 

 candle fixed in a kind of battledore, the guide having several 

 candles mounted on a cross-bar, and depositing our coats and 

 umbrellas, 



" On Heaven and our Lady call, 

 And enter the enchanted hall." 



The cavern is in the limestone rock, and the water that flows 

 thr'ough its passages, and lies in its silent pools, enters from the 

 hill side above by a cavity in the mountain, known as the 

 "Gaping Ghyll," where a small stream falls into a cave two 



