1 64 THE ADVENTURES OF 



;ince of negroes, or rather of chimney-sweeps. It was no use 

 thinking about washing ourselves ; the contents of our gourds 

 were too precious ; and, besides, there would not have been water 

 sufficient. As there was water in the cave, I'Encuerado offered 

 to go in and fetch some; but the smoke which escaped from the 

 hole made me feel anxious, so, for the time, I opposed the 

 Indian's re-descending into it. 



We were surprised at the time our exploration had lasted ; 

 it had taken no less than four hours. Although we had made 

 up our minds to continue our journey on coming out of the 

 cavern, the fatigue we felt, added to a desire to have another 

 look at the subterranean wonders, decided us to put off our 

 departure until the next day. 



After resting an hour, we all set off to seek our dinner. I 

 examined with much curiosity the neighbourhood of our encamp- 

 ment. The presence of skulls in the cave proved that some 

 Indian tribe had once inhabited this locality ; but as the Chichi- 

 mec (or Chichiquimec, in the chapter heading) Indians con- 

 structed nothing but huts, time had, doubtless, obliterated all 

 trace of their former presence. 



I can hardly describe the pleasure I felt in again viewing the 

 woods, the verdure, the insects, the flowers, and enjoying the 

 light of the sun. The interior of a cave, certainly, has the effect 

 of producing melancholy, attributable, no doubt, to the silence 

 and darkness ; for the beautiful hall, radiant with stalactites, was 

 but little likely to cause sadness. The effect on Lucien's mind 

 was of a serious character ; and he seemed never to be weary of 

 asking questions. 



" These natural hollows," said Sumichrast, " often occur in 

 gypsum mountains, but still more frequently in volcanic or cal- 

 careous masses. Some, which are as old as the world itself, date 

 from the earliest upheavals of the surface of the globe, when the 

 fused matter which composes the centre of the earth broke 

 through the scarcely solidified crust, and rushing upwards, formed 

 the mountain chains we now see." 



'' Then, the centre of the earth has been once in a liquid state % " 

 "It is so still, as is shown by volcanoes ; but the period of 



