84 
SOUTHERN AFRICA. 
astonishing, now burst upon onr view. We 
stood in a yast cave, one hundred and forty 
feet square, and about fifty in height, the whole 
of the most dazzling and sparkling whiteness. 
Columns and pillars of snow-white, and some of 
transparent crystalized lime, stood on all sides, 
the roof being covered with innumerable small 
and delicate icicle-looking stalactites. Each of 
these had a drop of pure water pendant from 
their extremities; and as each drop parted 
company with its filter, and fell to the ground, 
it had the appearance as of a shower of dia- 
monds falling from the roof. The boers had all 
taken up positions with their lights, to enable 
us to see the whole of this fairy-like cavern at 
one coup d^wil and, I stood bewildered and as- 
tonished at the wonderful sight. In the centre 
of the cavern stands a column, as pure and as 
white as alabaster. It is the height of the hall, 
fifty feet, and about nine feet in circumference, 
and worked in the most minute manner. It is 
formed of crystalized lime, surrounded by hori- 
zontal bands, or raised divisions, at every three 
or four feet. These divisions are filled up with 
a minute filigree work, and vertical lines; in 
fact, the column appears, to use a borrowed 
expression, as "if raised by a giant and finished 
by a jeweller." At either end of the hall, are 
groups of the same substance, resembling bed- 
