80 



An Excision 



there throughout the hard rock forming the south side of the 

 passage towards the cave. These specks have since been tested 

 by Mr. A. Collenette, F.C.3., f.m.s., and found to be Sulphide 

 of Iron. 



Hurrying from the Creux aux Chiens, the rising tide 

 threatening every moment to cut off the advance, the party 

 proceeded along the sea-ward edge of the cliffs to the extreme 

 point of Icart ; the paths here are very exposed and rather dan- 

 gerous. The Chateau d'Icart was the point aimed at, and to 

 reach it the Coupee had to be crossed. The passage is rather 

 dangerous, the width in one or two places is only about two 

 feet, and every winter falls are taking place, threatening to 

 complete the separation, and make the Chateau an island. On 

 the peninsula marks of artificial work are abundant. 



The summit of the rock appears to have served as a battery, 

 and this as well as two paths diverging from the Coupee to 

 right and left, is in some places supported by masonry ; but the 

 weather is gradually destroying the marks of human industry. 

 The party made its way along the face of the rock (a very 

 risky undertaking) into the cave situated immediately below 

 the second narrow part of the Coupee. The guide was one of 

 the party which claims to have discovered this cave about 

 thirty years ago ; he declared his belief that it was used by the 

 Eomans as a prison. He says that when it was first visited, 

 there was a wall across the entrance, in which a wooden gate 

 was fixed : the floor was then level throughout, and formed of 

 that conglomerated mass resembling concrete, of which only de- 

 tached portions now remain. The horizontal ledges resembling 

 shelves which are on the right and composed of very small 

 pebbles, were then perfect: and between them and the entrance 

 was a remarbable gap resembling in shape the erect figure of a 

 man. Since it has been exposed to the action of wind and 

 weather many of its characteristics have been destroyed. 



