VISIT TO CONGO GROTTO. 
81 
worthy of special and minute description, as 
being, in all probability, the most astonishing 
and extensive specimen of the kind in the 
world — we allude to the great Congo grotto 
in the Southern division of George. Adequately 
to describe this wonderful and truly grand spec- 
tacle is impossible ; we therefore gladly adopt 
the language of another eye witness, Lieut. 
Sherwill, of the H. E. I. C. Service. 
u We soon found ourselves," says that writer, 
" at the mouth of the Cave ; not, as I had ex- 
pected to have found it, a low narrow entrance, 
but a vast arched opening, a suitable approach 
to such a place. At the portal, which is about 
eighteen feet high and wide, is a vestibule, in 
which preparations were commenced by light- 
ing torches, and divesting ourselves of all su- 
perfluous raiment, as the boers, who were to be 
our guides, assured us we should find it pretty 
warm below. They endeavoured also to per- 
suade us to join them in their soopje, or dram 
of brandy before commencing operations, which 
being refused, they fortified themselves, and 
we started, each man with a light in either 
hand, except the torch-bearers, who held a 
bottle of oil besides their torch. The procession, 
as it moved oif, had a curious appearance and 
looked like a legion of Efreets about to cele- 
brate some dreadful orgies. We wound our 
G 
