440 CUTTRISS : notes on the caves of YORKSHIRE. 
streams descend from the slopes of Gragareth on the west, all 
of them sink underground as soon as they reach the limestone, 
and presumably swell the waters at Keld Head. Rowten Pot 
is situated exactly opposite the farmstead of Braida Garth, at 
an elevation of 1,192 feet. It receives the waters from Rowten 
Gill and Jingling Gill, which unite underground and fall into 
the chasm 30 feet below the surface. These channels, which 
may be followed throughout, if one does not object to crawling 
occasionally in the water, furnish a good example of the erratic 
course often followed by underground streams, twisting about in 
most unexpected directions. The opening of the chasm, which 
is unprotected by wall or fence, measures 75 feet by 50 feet. 
Close to the south end is a smaller opening, 16 feet by 5 feet^ 
down which a stone may be dropped 235 feet before it touches 
the bottom of the main shaft. 
During the last 35 years repeated attempts have been made 
to explore this pot-hole by diiferent people, but all failed in 
reaching the bottom, or even ascertaining its extreme depth, 
resulting in most exaggerated reports as to its supposed extent."^ 
In the autumn of 1896 several friends and myself turned 
our attention to this chasm, but owing to the quantity of water 
present, a descent of more than 150 feet could not then be 
accomplished. Three times during the following spring we 
returned to the attack, and a depth of 315 feet was attained. 
The evil genius of the place was, however, determined to defend 
the secret of Rowten Pot to the last, and we had to come away 
crestfallen, but more resolved than ever to fathom the mystery. 
Our greatest enemy was water, and considerable caution had to 
be exercised on that account, as a sudden rush might have been 
attended with serious consequences. 
On the evening of July 4th, 1897, five members of the 
Yorkshire Ramblers' Club and two men, Harry Woodhouse and 
Tom Somers, engaged as assistants, might have been seen toiling 
* The Craven and North-West Yorkshire Highlands, H. Speight, 
pp. 260-261. 
Ingleton, Bygone and Present, R. R. Balderston, pp. 61-3. 
