336 



riporcs, and bther calcareous concretions, 

 formed by nature from the limpid diftiliing 

 drop, which were feen on all fides, alfo above 

 and below, and hanging round about our heads 

 in an endlefs variety of romantic and fanc- 

 iful forms. 



The air, In moft parts of the cave, was 

 confined and warm, but, occafionally, we 

 felt it damp and chilly. On our way back, 

 at a narrow pafs, where we had been obli- 

 ged to bend low the knee in order to creep 

 under the arch of a rock, we perceived it 

 rufli in flrong current ; and here the whole 

 of our lights were fuddenly extinguifhed, 

 and we were fhut in the dark and hollow 

 bowels of the earth, unable to explore our 

 way to the mouth of the cavern. Unhappily, 

 too, w^e were confined in a damp current 

 of air, where we were compelled to fiand 

 iliivering with cold, while Col. Williams and 

 the Negroes, who had been often in the 

 cave, felt their way, at great hazard^ to the 

 opening, to procure new lights. We remained 

 buried in the filent feclufion of this fubterrane- 

 ous abode for nearly an hour ; and when the 

 diftant found of cur condudcf's feet returned 



