C 2 +5 ] 
out oil the Sides, into various Lanes and Labyrinth- 
kind of Windings, that every nowand then open 
into one another; which renders it no eafy Task to 
find the Way out, when a Perfon has been a little 
bewilder’d in thefe fubterraneous Mazes. 
Moft of thefe Vaults are arched at Top, whereby 
the immenfe Weight, which every Moment prefles 
on them, is well fupported ; a Weight no lefs than 
that of Hills, whofe perpendicular Altitude above the 
Tops of thefe Arches is twenty or thirty Yards, if 
not much more. I have frequently, fays my Corre- 
fpondent, gone into thefe Caverns out of Curiolity; 
but could never perceive the leaft Appearance of 
thofc Damps * which are fo common in Mines, and 
other fubterraneous Places, where the Air is ftag- 
nant for want of a due Current; which fhould feem 
to be the very Cafe here, as there is but one En- 
trance into it. The Palfage indeed is horizontal, 
and open to the Weft Wind ; but the included Air’s 
being free from Putrefa&ion, may poftlbly be owing 
to the large Quantity of Salt which the Chalk con- 
tains. 
How deep or thick thefe Rocks of Chalk are, no 
one, fo far as I can find, can tell ; for, in finking 
the loweft Wells, they have never, that I know of, 
been dug thro’,* and confequently muft be exceed- 
ing deep* The Chalk at the further End of this 
Cavern is fo very foft, that it may be moulded with 
the Hand like Pafte ; which I take to be its original 
Confidence, and what it always retains, till it be- 
comes expos’d to the Air. In the very loweft Parts 
I i 2 of 
* Thofe are commonly caufed by fulphureous Vapours, which 
never appear in Chalk, C. M. 
