The Hon. Mr. Strang ways on the Geology of Russia. 27 



Among the greatest natural curiosities of the government of Nishney Nov- 

 gorod;, must unquestionably be reckoned the rocks and cavern Barnoucova. 

 They are situated near the vyestern extremity of a ridge of hills that accom- 

 pany the northern bank of the river Piana^, which flowing first westward 

 doubles the end of these hills^ and then runs eastward, by the town of Cergach, 

 till it reaches the Volga. 



A round hill, covered with a wood of oaks to the very summit, is at this place 

 hollowed on one side into a natural amphitheatre, accessible only by a rugged 

 path, which follows a small stream issuing from a narrow opening between the 

 hills. On pursuing this stream into the recess from which it flows, some 

 lofty perpendicular rocks appear above the wood on the right hand; and a few 

 steps further, on turning a sudden corner, the dell widens a little, but is sud- 

 denly barred across its upper end by a precipitous cliff of considerable height 

 and snowy whiteness. A small lake lies in the hollow, fringed with oaks, and 

 which has an outlet by the stream which accompanies the path. The white 

 cliff rises abruptly from behind the lake, and a woody eminence above termi- 

 nates the scene. But the beauty and repose which characterize this seques- 

 tered spot, are not the only features which distinguish it. On arriving at 

 the foot of the cUff, it is discovered to be of the purest alabaster; and on pass- 

 ing the tangled brushwood which conceals it, is seen the mouth of a cavern 

 formed in a rock, of which it is no exaggeration to say that it resembles the 

 driven snow ; for to no other object in nature does it bear any resemblance. 

 On descending towards the mouth of this cave, although yet at a distance of 

 several feet from it, a sudden and remarkable sensation of chill is strongly ex- 

 perienced : it seems at the moment as if the rock, which has all the appear- 

 ance of snow, had also its coldness ; and in ascending the rocks on either 

 side, the return to perfect warmth is felt instantly on rising above the level of 

 the cave. The interior soon contracts*, and is, as might be supposed, intensely 

 cold ; a quality remarkable even during the hottest weather. On the right 

 hand, the tops of many of the flatter or larger masses which rise above 

 the trees, not only glitter in the sun like drifts of snow, but the purity of 

 their colour, their powdery texture, and even their furrowed surfaces, which 

 are channelled and waved as if by the action of the wind, contribute to 

 deceive the observer, and produce the most perfect resemblance. The rock 

 is indistinctly stratified in large beds, and contains starry crystallizations of 



* Pallas visited Barnoucova in 1768. For a minute description of the cavern, which makes it 

 needless for me to say more upon this subject, see his Travels, vol. i. 



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