350 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



passing through an arched passage in the rock so low as not to 

 admit of their standing erect in the boat. Having proceeded 

 about 50 feet in a southerly direction, they altered their course 

 to the left around an angle in the rocky passage, and found them- 

 selves in water about 30 feet in depth, and so limpid that the 

 smallest object might be seen at the bottom. The course of the 

 water was varied by the projections of the passage, which gradu- 

 ally expanded to 20 feet in width, being of a bight sometimes 

 not discoverable, and at others only sufficient to enable them to 

 pursue their way. They thus proceeded about 300 feet, when they 

 arrived at a rugged shelving ascent, on the right shore of the lake, 

 and beneath which its waters disappeared. Leaving the boat, 

 they landed upon this sloping ascent, and advancing 20 feet they 

 entered an aperture in the rock resembling a door, Avhen they 

 found themselves within an amphitheater, perfectly regular and 

 circular in form. Its diameter is 100 feet, and its hight is sup- 

 posed to be still greater. The floor descends on all sides gradually 

 to its center, while the roof is apparently horizontal. Its walls 

 are described" as rich in stalactitic decorations. Great numbers 

 of bats, disturbed by the intrusion of the adventurers, were seen 

 flying about the cavern. 



Subsequent visits led to the discovery of five additional apart- 

 ments, communicating with the amphitheater, all of which how- 

 ever are small and none remarkable, excepting one in which the 

 circulations of currents of air or of water, or probably of both, 

 produces sounds like the Aeolian harp. 



Returning to the lake, where the adventurers landed, it was 

 noticed that upon the north side of the perpendicular entrance to 

 the amphitheater there existed a low and narrow aperture, through 

 which a small stream issued. The opening above the surface of 

 the waiter was only 14 inches high; but its dimensions were seen 

 to be greater within. A boat was constructed to suit this open- 

 ing, through which it was pushed containing a single person in 

 a recumbent posture. After a few feet, the passage enlarged 

 enough to allow the navigator to assume an upright position; and 

 he proceeded to the distance of a quarter of a mile, the width of 

 the passage varying from 5 to 20 feet. Here the water was 30' 

 feet in depth, and losing sight of the light he had left at the com- 

 mencement of his voyage, in consequence of a turn in the passage, 

 he advanced in a, new direction for about GO feet, when he en- 

 countered a semicircular dam of calcareous tufa, over which the 

 water broke with a slight ripple. Drawing his boat over the ob- 

 struction he proceeded as before, when he soon met a similar 

 barrier. In this manner he passed 14 of these dams, which varied 



