464 



UNITICD STATES. 



and second apartments it descended to 59 deg,, be- 

 tween the second and third apartments it sunk to 

 54 deg., which it preserved throughout the whole of' 

 the innermost cliamber. 



August 5th. The thermometer was very dif- 

 ferently affected by the enveloped air, standing then^ 

 in the open, at 78 deg., and at the lower end of the 

 iirst chamber at 54 deg., but at the farther end of 

 the lovv^ermost, rose to 63 deg. 



The rock encompassing the cavern is entirely 

 limestone, through which, in many places, there is a 

 perpetual percolation of water. 



By supposition, the descent, in a right line, forms 

 an angle of 40 deg. with the horizon. 



At the bottom is a bason of excellent water, which 

 measured twenty feet to the place where it came into 

 contact with the rock, terminating the ca¥e as far as 

 it has been, dr can be explored. Beyond the meeting 

 of the rock and water there is a conduit running 

 farther into the earth than could be measured with a 

 lung pole ; and is undoubtedly continued, though it 

 Biay ramify into many subordinate channels befcn-e it 

 advances to the beds of the river and creek. The 

 many springs on the verges; the proportionable 

 i ising and falling of the water contained in the ca-^ 

 vern, widi the flowing of the waters in the river and 

 creek, demonstrate their connectioH ; and prove the 

 i^urface of the one to be on a level with the other. 

 WMen there is a high fresh in the river, the lowest 

 chamber is nearly filled. 



At the partition between the first and second 

 apartments, a small branch of the cave, thirty -two 

 ltt;t ialcr.gth, seeks acourse in an easterly directionf 



