82 SOUTHERN AFEICA. 
way for about one hundred paces, through a 
narrow passage excavated by nature in the 
living rock, (which was of a dark pitchy hue,) 
until arrested by a precipice at our feet. Before 
us stretched a thick cloud of darkness ; and all 
around us, in spite of our torches and candles, 
wore the same aspect, the gloom appearing 
literally impenetrable and tangible. A stout 
ladder was lowered down, and we descended to 
the depth of about thirty-three feet, and found 
ourselves standing in a vast hall of six hundred 
feet in length, about one hundred in breadth, 
and from sixty to seventy feet high. In the 
centre of this magnificent cave stands a colossal 
stalactite of seventy feet in height, white as the 
purest marble, and sparkling as if strewn with 
diamonds. From the roof depend enormous 
masses of lime, gradually growing into stalac- 
tital columns; whilst, on the damp ground, rising 
to meet these pendant masses, are huge stalag- 
mites, formed by the continual filtration of lime 
through the superincumbent rocks. Some have 
nearly met, and formed columns, others are but 
commencing to form ; in fact, the whole floor 
of the cave is strewed with stalagmites of 
various growths, and on the roof opposite to 
each hangs a corresponding mass. The work 
of filtration of calcareous matter is proceeding 
steadily, and in time, this vast hall will become 
