Ih 
GEOTTO OF AMTIPAKOS. 
m 
grotto, to procure a sight of which he has 
so much fatigue. It is in widtli three hundred and 
l>lac^ 'ongth tliree hundred and forty ; and in most 
°oe liundred and eighty in height. By the aid of torch- 
arcl liimself beneath an immense and finely-vaulted 
of °' '^*’spmad with icicles of white shining marble, many 
toss tnd of a proportionate thick- 
Ig.'' Among these are suspended a thousand festoons m 
a, tod flowers, of the same substance, but so glittering 
Ittcf die sight. The sides are planted with petri- 
rise**-"*’ white marble, representing trees ; these, 
foil above the other, and often enclose the 
as if die icicles. From them also hang festoons, tied 
p]j "ore one to another, in great abundance ; and in some 
si, '''Vers of marble seem to wind through them. In 
"ate’ petrifactions, the result of the dripping of 
*>tool- ™ series of ages, nicely resemble trees and 
of dff to marble. The floor is paved with crystals 
pfQi '“orent colours, such as red, blue, green, and yellow, 
I’ljg from it, and rendering it rugged and uneven. 
"I'icf ogain interspersed with icicles of white marble, 
oave apparently fallen from tlie roof, and are there 
stare ftie guides fasten their torches ; and the 
‘tturn'^* ®ptendour and beauty which results from such an 
better conceived than described. 
fto„i Loe above lively description we subjoin an extract 
visitgj ® .”‘'0 §‘ven by Dr. Clarke, a learned traveller, who 
<> -I'l celebrated grotto in 1802 . 
Potent *^cde of descent is by ropes, which, on the dif- 
ioitied , are eitlier held by the guides, or are 
stalactif^ “.cable which is fastened at the entrance around a 
dowii *^tiis manner, we were conducted, first 
tfcreti 'feclivity, and then down apother, until we en- 
Tbe roof ®P“cious chambers of this truly enchanted grotto, 
ticent c ’ floor, the sides of a whole series of magni- 
were entirely invested with a dazzling 
"ere g,, W'hite as snow. Columns, some of which 
f“fni8 *^weuty feet in length, pended in fine icicle 
“bove°t'if heads : fortunately some of them are so 
*^tty g, fl® reach of the numerous travellers, who, during 
to fi,-*’ visited this place, that no one has been 
jure «r to remove them. Others extended from 
