332 



our attention was w'lthm about hslf a mile 

 of ihe Col.'s houfe, where we ftopped to ex- 

 plore one of the greateft natural curiofities. 

 of the Ifland — si very extenfive fubterraneous. 

 cavern, called " Harrilbn's Cave." Its hid- 

 den mouth opens among the rocks of a deep 

 narrow gully, between two lofty hills. There: 

 we forfook the world of light, and defcended: 

 into the dark regions of the earth, in order- 

 to advance to the bottom of the fombre depths, 

 before us. Our v/ay was intricate and ob-. 

 fcure. Taking with us three Negroes^ with 

 lights, we defcended by narrow windings, ox 

 fpacious openings, by broad walks, or narrow 

 crooked paths, over loofe ftones, or rocky. . 

 fteeps. At one moment vv^e found ourfelves . 

 under a fine arch or dome, hung with cluftera 

 of petiifadions I at another we were in a. 

 narrow aifle^ whofe v/alls, and impending^ 

 vault, faintly glittered with multiform incruf- 

 talions. By the fenfes of feeling and hear- 

 \hgj more than by fight, we judged of the, 

 varying uncertainty of our fituation, and ad- 

 vanced in perilous ftep — now confined, now 

 in more open fpace, until vs^e reached a fpot , 

 v/here we came to a gentle rivulet, foftly , 

 ilealing along its fubterrancous bed .inapurQ 



