352 
STALACTITES. 
manner as in the Grotto of Antiparos. This im- 
mense place, which continues in an inclined di- 
rection for 150 feet from the opening, and which is 
200 feet high and 250 broad, is studded on all sides 
by sparry incrustations of a gigantic size. 
Antiparos is a little island in the Archipelago, 
about sixteen miles in circumference, and separated 
from Paros merely by a narrow channel. The ca- 
vern is situated a few miles within the island, and 
we are said to owe its discovery to Magni, an 
Italian traveller, who has given such an account of 
this wonderful place as would hardly be credited, if 
it had not been confirmed by subsequent visitors. 
‘ c Having been informed,” says Magni, “ by the 
natives of Paros, of a gigantic statue that was to be 
seen in the little island of Antiparos, it was resolved 
that we (the French consul and himself) should pay 
it a visit. In pursuance of 1 his resolution, after we 
had landed in the island, and walked about four 
miles through the midst of beautiful plains and 
sloping woodlands, we at length came to a little 
hill, on the side of which yawned a most horrid 
cavern, that with its gloom at first struck us with 
terror, and almost repressed curiosity. Recovering 
the first surprise, however, we entered boldly ; and 
had not proceeded above twenty paces, when the 
supposed statue of a giant presented itself to our 
view. We quickly perceived that what the igno- 
rant natives had been terrified at as a giant was no- 
thing more than a sparry concretion, formed by the 
water dropping from the roof of the cave, and by 
