466 



UNITED STATES. 



It is situate on the east side of Swatara, close to tiier 

 river. Its entrance is very spacious^ and there is 

 somewhat of a descent towards the other extremity. 

 The upper part is like an arched roof, of solid lime- 

 stone rock, perhaps twenty feet thick. - On entering^, 

 are found many apartments, some of them very high, 

 like the choir of a church. The water drops inces- 

 santly from the roof upon the floor ; by which, and 

 the water petrifying as it falls, pillars are gradually- 

 formed to support the rooL I saw this cave about 

 thirty years ago, and observed above ten such pillarsj 

 each six inches in diameter, and six feet high ; all so 

 ranged that the place inclosed by them resembled a 

 sanctuary in a Roman church ; and I can assure you, 

 that no royal thr jne ever exhibited more grandeur, 

 than the delightful prospect of this lusus natun^o. 

 A piece of stone, issuing out of thereof, when struck 

 sounds like a belL 



Some of the stalactites are of a colour like sugar 

 candy, and others resemble loaf sugar; but it is a 

 pity that their beauty is now almost destroyed by 

 the country people. The water, as it falls, runs 

 down tlie decli /ity; and it is both wholesome and 

 pleasant to drink, when it has discharged its petri- 

 fying matter. 



It is remarkable, that we found several holes at 

 the bottom of the cave, going down perpendicularly, 

 perhaps into the abysSj. which renders It dangerous 

 to be without a light. At the end of the cave there 

 is a pretty run, which takes its course through part 

 of it^ and then loses itself among the rocks ; here is 

 also its exit, by an aperture which is very narrow, 

 llirqugh this the vapours continually pass outwardS; 



