86 
SOUTHERN AFRICA. 
of these, but were obliged to desist from pro- 
ceeding far, in consequence of the heated state 
of the atmosphere. A small low cave with a 
slooping roof, named the " Yskegal Kamer" (or 
icicle-room,) deserves special notice. Although 
itself small and low, its roof, closely studded 
with the most minute stalactites, presents one of 
the most striking sights I have ever witnessed 
under ground. The small icicles really appear 
as if cut from solid pearls, their colour is so 
exquisitely beautiful and soft. A constant dis- 
tillation of water goes on in this room, which 
is received into deep natural reservoirs in the 
floor ; the water being so pure, that it is im- 
possible to distinguish it, untiMmmersed up to 
the chin, which happened to many of our party. 
I was the first victim, being plunged over head 
and ears, torch and all, into a deep pool. 
"We here asked the boers to conduct us to 
the long room, mentioned by Mr. Thompson in 
his work on South Africa. One and all, they 
declared that no such place existed ; nor was it 
until they saw that we were determined to find 
it, unaided, that they confessed its existence ; 
but urged that it was a great way off, through 
the most intricate passages, and over a most 
uneven and broken surface, where we were 
very likely to get a broken limb, or head. This, 
however, only made us the more anxious to 
