152 
caves, some of which, as at Oreston, Brixham, and Torquay, 
have furnished both archaeology and palaeontology with facts 
of profound interest. Kent's Cavern — the discoveries in 
which are connected with the name of Mr. M'Enery — is at 
the distance of about a mile and a half eastward from Torquay, 
and does not differ materially in its structure from the caves 
which characterize limestone districts. Like these, it has a 
floor covered with stalagmite, while stalactites depend from 
the roof. These appearances had attracted visitors long 
before flint implements or the fossil bones of extinct animals 
had become objects of research. To cut their names in any 
remarkable spot, which they may happen to visit, is an 
ancient custom of our countrymen, and Kent's Cavern bears 
testimony to its existence for at least 250 years. Names and 
dates have been cut in the stalagmite, and the earliest of 
these which is legible is of the year 1615. But scientific 
research into its contents did not begin till 1824, when it 
was explored systematically by Mr. Northmore, an ingenious 
but eccentric man, who hoped to find there some evidence in 
support of a theory of pagan mythology which he had 
adopted. Mr. Bryant, whose views had been reproduced by 
the Rev. G. Stanley Faber, had led many persons to embrace 
what was called the Helioarkite origin of mythology, according 
to which heathen polytheism, including Druidism, was the 
worship of the Sun, combined with the deification of Noah, 
as the symbol of the Deluge. Mr. Northmore had adopted 
this theory, and had joined with it the belief that the 
Mithraic worship had been widely diffused over the ancient 
world, and especially had its share in producing Druidism. 
Now, the Mithraic rites were known to have been celebrated 
in caverns, and the report of the wonders of Kent's Hole 
convinced him that he should find there the various objects 
which indicated the performance of Helioarkite and Mithraic 
worship. It is not the first time that a man, who has gone 
