MEMOIR OF 
Ixii 
feet in diameter, and six feet in depth, to five hundred by 
fifty, the surface or verdure generally unbroken. In some 
tracts, the surface was entirely destitute of trees, and the 
eye was presented with nothing but one general neigh- 
bourhood of these concavities, or, as they are usually 
called, sink-holes. At the centre, or bottom, of some 
of these, openings had been made for water. In several 
places these holes had broken in, on the sides, and even 
middle of the road, to an unknown depth ; presenting 
their grim months as if to swallow up the unwary 
traveller. At the bottom of one of those declivities, at 
least fifty feet below the general level, a large rivulet of 
pure water issued at once from the mouth of a cave about 
twelve feet wdde and seven high. A number of very 
singular sweet smelling lichens grew' over the entrance, 
and a pewee had fixed her nest, like a little sentry-box, on a 
projecting shelf of the rock above the water. The height 
and dimensions of the cave continued the same as far as 
I waded in, which might be thirty or forty yiu'ds ; but the 
darkness became so great that I was forced to return. I 
observed numbers of small fish sporting about ; and I 
doubt not hut these abound even in its utmost subterra- 
nean recesses. The whole of this country, from Green 
to Red river, is hollowed out into these enormous caves ; 
one of which, lately discovered in Warren county, about 
eight miles from the dripping spring, has been explored 
for upwards of six miles, extending under the bed of the 
Green river. The entrance to these caves generally com- 
mences at the bottom of a sink-hole, and many of them 
are used by the inhabitants as cellars, or spring houses, 
having generally a siiring or brook of clear water running 
through them. I descended into one of these, belonging 
to a Mr Wood, accompanied by the proprietor, who 
carried the light. At first, the darkness was so intense 
that I could scarcely see a few feet beyond the circum- 
ference of the candle ; but, after being in for five or si* 
