110 SUBTERBANEOBS WONDEBS. . 
attracted the attention of an infinite number of 
The entrance to this superb grotto is on the side of a 
and is a large arch, formed of craggy stones, overhung 
brambles and creeping plants, which bestow on it v 
ness at once awful and agreeable. Having proceeded . 
thirty paces within it, the traveller enters a low 
alley, surrounded on every side by stones, which, by^ 
light of torches, glitter like diamonds ; the whole 
covered and lined throughout witli small crystals, \ 
give, by their difterent reflections, a variety of colours-jj,^ 
The end of this alley or passage, having a rope tied rouU 
waist, he is led to the brink of an awful precipice, ‘‘ u 
thence lowered into a deep abyss, the gloom pen'“ 
which makes him regret the “ alley of diamonds’ ,!» 
just quitted. He has not as yet, however, reachc-a 
grotto, but is led forward about.forty paces, beneath 1 
of rugged rocks, amid a scene of terrible darkness, ,,t 
a vast depth from the surface of the earth, to the ([i 
another precipice, much deeper and more awful tli^ 
former. 
Having descended this precipice, which is not 
plished without considerable difficulty, the traveller w 
a passage, the grandeur and beauty of which can 
imperfectly described. It is one hundred and twenv^' 
in length, about nine feet high, and in width seven, ' ^ 
bottom of a fine green glossy marble. The jjjrf 
arched roof are as smooth and polished as if they ha" / 
wrought by art, and are composed of a fine gliitc'''j(^' 
and white granite, supported at intervals by coluni>|’^(ii# 
deep blood-red shining porphyry, which, by the 
of tlie lights, presents an appearance inconceivably 
At the extremity of this passage is a sloping wall, 
of a single mass of purple marble, studded with j,/ 
rock crystal, which, from the glow of tlie purplt! 
appear like a continued range of amethysts. 
Another slanting passage, filled with petrifactions' i# 
senting tlie figures of snakes and other animals, and ^ 
towards its extremity two pillars of beautiful yell®'*" ^ 
blc, which seem to support the roof, leads to the 1** iy 
cipice, which is descended by the means of a laddef- p? 
traveller, who has descended to the depth of n^ 
tbousaud five hundred feet beneath the surface, no'* 
