172 
much more if he could see the place, he would be satisfied that 
nothing short of the waters of a deluge could effect this result.* * * § 
As to the period of time which it took to effect all this, I find 
no attempt at accurate calculation. When once we begin to 
draw cheques on the Bank of Imagination and are quite sure 
they will not be dishonoured, it is well to be liberal in the 
amount. 
Mr. McEnerv, who was not acquainted with the views of 
modern scientists, calculates from the discovery of a boar’s 
skull accompanied by the head of a badger and an iron spear, 
which were found in the middle of the stalagmite. He says,f 
1 ‘ It is a curious inquiry to ascertain at what historic period the 
cavern was visited by the boar-hunter, armed with his iron 
spear. Could we arrive at an approximation to that period, 
by doubling it, we might have the age of the stalagmite. An 
intermediate period between the deposition of the mud and 
the present time is strongly indicated ; which squares with 
that assigned by history for the occupation of this country by 
savage aborigines, who dwelt in native cavenis and pits, which 
they dug underground, before they formed into societies and 
built themselves abodes on the surface, brought fields into 
cultivation, and assumed a civilized form.”J 
“ If we may compute by this scale, taking the charcoal seam 
as a species of chronometer to measure the time elapsed beforo 
and since its deposition, we shall have pretty nearly the time 
which should elapse since the Deluge, viz. 4,000 or 5,000 
years.” 
According to Mr. Pengelly, who has a different theory to 
support, some hundred thousand years at least before Adam 
sinned (as Jews and as Christians believe) man was associated 
with a creature§ possessing the formidable weapons of offence 
characteristic of the sabre-toothed bear. (Sec the plate oppo- 
site, adapted from Figuier.) 
Beneath all that I have described comes a second stalagmite 
floor from three to twelve feet thick, containing bones of bears 
only. I am not quite certain whether this is always so regular 
and subjacent as it ought to be in theory ; but be that as it 
* See Appendix B. t McEnery, p. 73. 
t Camden quotes from Hauvillan, an old British poet, as follows : — 
“ Titanibus ilia, 
Sed paucis fabulosa domus quibus uda ferarum 
Terga dabant vestes, cruor haustus, pocula trunci, 
Antra lares, dumeta thoros, coenacula rapes, 
* * * sed eorum plurima tractus, 
Pars erat Occidui ; terror majorque premebat, 
Te furor, extremum Zephyri, Columbia, liinen.” 
§ McEnery, p. 105. 
