426 
MERGE TO GYRENE. 
one side of the cascade are two excavated chambers, or rather one 
chamber divided into two compartments ; and in the farther division 
is a second basin, sunk below the level of the chamber, which appears 
to have originally communicated with the stream by means of a small 
aperture in the rock just above it ; but no water at present finds its 
way through this opening, and the basin would be dry were it not 
for the rain which washes into it from without during the winter 
season. It is probable that this reservoir was originally devoted to 
the service of the priests who had the charge of the sacred stream, 
in the performance of their religious ceremonies. Nearly opposite 
to it is what appears to have be€?n the principal entrance ; and we 
found here a tablet, broken in two pieces, which seems to have fallen 
from over the doorway, and near it the fragment of a fluted, engaged 
column. On the tablet is sculptured three female figures, joining 
hands as if performing a sacred dance: the mode of executing the 
draperies in this bas-relief would seem to point it out as belonging 
to a very early period ; and the difference of style between it and 
another bas-relief which we found near it, representing a female 
figure crowning a term, will be obvious on a reference to the plates 
of the two performances given. The last-mentioned tablet is of white 
marble, in excellent style, and finished with all the delicacy and taste 
of the most refined periods : the upper part of it appeared at first 
sight to be naked, but on a more attentive inspection it was found 
to be covered with what is evidently intended for a light, transparent, 
drapery, the few folds of which are very slightly, though very clearly 
defined, and result with great propriety as well as simplicity from 
