337 



upon our ears, and the foft glimmerings of 

 light again ftole into the folemn depths of the 

 cave, the efFedwas uncommonly ftriking and 

 beautiful. Watching carefully as the negroes 

 approached, we at one moment faw the rays 

 of light gleam upon their dark fkins, gilding 

 them as it v/ere with fire, and giving them the 

 appearance of the fons of Satan. Prefently 

 we loft them in profound obfcurity, then 

 again, the imperfect rays ftretched towards us, 

 and at one moment we faw indiftindly the 

 blacks defcend from a rock, and at another 

 perceived them fuddenly rife as from the deep. 

 Again the light difappeared and we only heard 

 their diftant hollow founding fteps : then 

 they efcaped from a narrow paflage or 

 confined recefs, and were feen ftepping forth 

 under an open and fpacious arch, where the 

 heavy rocks, the vaulted dome, the petrified 

 columns, the mafTy tubes, and impending cluf- 

 ters of glittering concretions, together with 

 the folemn echo, the fiery blacknefs of the 

 negroes, and the fpreading rays of artificial 

 light, partially abforbed, or feebly refledled, 

 produced an effed:, which was awfully ro- 

 mantic and fublime. 



VOL, I, 



