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H. C. Hovey—Discoveries in Western Caves, 467 
even found their way into foreign periodicals, that purported 
to describe the “Grand Crystal Cave near Glasgow, Kentucky” 
giving thrilling particulars of a perilous voyage on its mysteri- 
ous waters. e ascertained by inquiry on the spot that no 
such cave exists; and have learned by experience that cave- 
streams are generally very safe and placid bodies of water, by 
reason of the fact that they are not of navigable size until the 
level of adjacent streams is nearly reached. 
3. Mammoth Cave is visited by more than 2,000 persons 
day. We, however, were favored with a special guide, and 
devoted many successive days to localities not often visited. 
After eighty miles of underground travel, our curiosity was 
satiated ; and yet we had entered only 54 of the 225 avenues 
reported by Professor D. D. Owen as actually enumerated. 
he comparatively recent discovery of a pit-like passage called 
“the Corkscrew,” is of importance, not only because it enables 
the visitors to cut off two miles between the Rotunda and River 
all by an abrupt descent of 150 feet ; but also because it proves 
the theory that the cave crosses its own track, so that a change 
1S required in the entire map. It is now believed that the 
cascade falling over the mouth and instantly sinking through 
the rocks is identical with that at the head of the River Styx, 
and is a feeder of that stream. It isalso proved that these deep 
and navigable rivers, instead of being fed by Green River, flow 
into it. Chaff thrown upon the surface of Lake Lethe ig dase 
after some time in the waters of what is known as the Upper 
Ing the cave, the subterranean rivers must be at a little less 
than that number of feet beneath the surface, and must also be 
the lowest localities possible. Hence no dome in Mammoth 
ave could exceed 312 feet in height without cutting through 
to the open air; by which test may be corrected the statements 
of those imaginative writers whose estimates are nearly double 
what they should be. The grandest of these vertical cavities, 
pebsing from some sink-hole above through all the galleries 
own to the water-level, is called, by way of eminence, the 
Mammoth Dome. Beyond it lies a stately hall, so like the 
ruins of Karnak and Luxor that we had permission to name it 
the Egyptian Temple. Here stand six columns of odlitic lime- 
Stone encrusted with a stalagmitic coating but an inch or two 
