ISLE of SKYE. 
452 
entirely made up of fparry congelations, but the roof is 
of fuc’n height as almoft to be invifible. Below, this ca¬ 
vity is filled with water, as if intended for a bath, through 
the tranlparency of which the white marble bottom is 
feen ; and to this pool there is a very fteep defcent by ano¬ 
ther icy bank fimilar to that which was encountered in 
gaining this elevation. 
The fenfations which the firft entrance into this fuperb 
faloon produces having in fome degree fubfided, the vifi- 
tor is led to examine the beauty and Angularity of the 
i'urrounding objects : and the firft to attraft his notice, is 
a fpar ftatue of a monk, on the right fide, as large as life. 
This figure is remarkably ftriking. It is more prominent 
than other immenfe colleftions of fpar which rife upon 
the wall behind, and to which it is fomewhat attached. 
It appears in a kneeling pofture upon a cufliion, as if in 
the aft of devotion, with uplifted hands. The drapery 
of the gown, which envelopes the body, is beautiful and 
correft. The head is bare, and feems fiiaven after the 
monaftic falhion, without any refemblance of hair. The 
face is diltinftly feen, though the nofe is rather fmall and 
flat. The (houlders are in jult proportion, as are the other 
parts of this figure. Behind the monk, feveral admirable 
concretions appear like buds, the head and (boulders 
being, in general, quite natural, with a confole of the 
molt exquifite beauty. That part of the pedeftal which 
is united to the (houlders is a folid mafs, but the confole, 
or lower part, is compofed of diftinft (talaftites, having 
the femblance of complicated leaves inverted, whole apices, 
inclining inwards, give the bull a pretty regular, though 
fomewhat a whimfical, look. Similar modifications of the 
fpar, in this foliated ftate, are prefented under different 
regulations, but always in the fame dependent pofition. 
Being clofely accumulated, thefe leaves are chiefly dif- 
pofed into the urn-lliape, which, though not a complete 
and perfect vafe, the likenefs is accurate and truly pre- 
ferved, even in every pofture in which they are placed. 
The head of a nun covered with a hood may be here ob¬ 
served, the drapery of which, on both fides, is chafte and 
elegant. Higher upon the wall, an intermixture of finely- 
embofled objefts catch the eye. A confufed aflemblage 
of images is feen under every luppofable contortion, and 
taking the mod fantaftic and capricious fhapes. Here 
there is no faithful reprefentation of the human frame, 
nor of the inferior creation, the figures principally being 
grotefque and fanciful, though, in many of the incrufta- 
tions, a lively imagination may trace a refemblance to 
portions of the human form, to parts of various animals, 
and to vegetables; but in one place, there is a complete 
model of the golden fleece, in bas relief, and of the due 
fize. 
The ftirious cryftalization is the moft prevalent form 
which the fpar of this cave, like others of the lame nature, 
has taken. Thefe beautiful (talaftites are exhibited of 
many fizes and lhapes, but for the moft part they are 
coraiiform. They are frequently placed in colonades of 
elegant arrangement, receding from the eye as the cave 
is here enlarged, and forming numerous niches and re¬ 
cedes. Some of the pillars are fupported by the figures 
which are feen below, and which leemingly are diitorted 
by the impending weight. Several of thefe columns are 
of confiderable length, their interftices being irregularly 
filled up with innumerable corufcant gems ; but many of 
them are mutilated with flat and broken furfaces, while 
the truncated fragments of others are corrugated. The 
fcene here terminates above in a roof, or, more properly, 
in a pure white cloud, which feems to hang over the 
whole. Thofe portions of the roof which are feen, are 
carelefsly adorned with fparkling pendent (talaftites of 
various forms and fizes. 
Having contemplated thefe objects, from which the eye 
would hardly wilh to wander, the mind is ft ill urged for¬ 
ward to explore the utmoft boundaries of this fafcinating 
nianfiou ; and, quitting his ftation, the vifitor goes down 
the (loping bank to the border of the lake, if fo it may be 
named. This bank, or folid cataraft, bas a declination 
above thirty feet, getting broader as it defcends ; and, 
though its lurface is broken into many irregularities, yet, 
owing to its declivity, it is palled down not without nfic. 
From its ruggednefs, however, and from the lpar not 
being here fo glafl'y, the feet are prevented from (lipping; 
and, by cautioufiy and leifurely felefting his fteps, the 
traveller arrives at the edge of the lake. One cannot eafily 
be divefted of the dread of Aiding into the pool, which, 
though it be only about five feet deep, a fudden immer- 
fion in it would be found rather inconvenient. 
Having got down to the margin of the lake, fome ine¬ 
qualities admit of a fecure footing, and of (landing ereft; 
and here, if the cave is properly illuminated, and the 
lights judicioufly placed, the moft fplendid view of it will 
be feen. The vifitor here finds himlelf imbofomed in a 
magnificent amphitheatre, from which there appears no 
outlet. It is wholly formed of the moft brilliant white 
fpar, glittering on all fides, and emitting myriads of fpark¬ 
ling rays of light, which are reflefted from the bofom of 
its pellucid lake. The lpace all around is white and pure 
as driven fnow, not even a dark point being vifible, ex¬ 
cepting the faint (hade of thofe fparry forms which pro¬ 
trude on all fides. Numberlefs images are crowded on 
the furrounding walls ; and nature feems as if (lie had. 
exhaulted her creative powers, in calling forth that infi¬ 
nite variety of fublime and beautiful objefts which are 
here to be feen, and of which, in faft, a correft idea can¬ 
not be conveyed in words. 
On the brink of this fountain, which is an irregular 
circle of (ixty-feven feet in circumference, it appears like 
a fine bafon of cryllalline water, or a large marble bath, 
the fides and bottom of which are perfeftly white. The 
elegant walls of this faloon rife almoft perpendicularly 
from the bottom of the bafon, fo that one cannot walk 
round it; but on the oppofite fide an opening is feen 
which leads into a fable pafl'age. The roof is fo lofty, 
that a part of it is not very dilcernible ; but what of it is 
vifible is fomewhat arched, and here the length of the 
circles which decorate it are more plainly to be feen. On 
the right of this fpacious hall, about eight feet above the 
furface of the pool, the wall recedes a little, forming a 
narrow bench for the reception, as it feems, of an admi¬ 
rable group of figures in alto relievo, which are placed 
upon it. Thefe are fix in number, as large as life, and 
white as alabafter. They' are Caryatides and Perfians, in 
graceful attitudes, the drapery flowing in the moft accu¬ 
rate ftyle. The prominent figure is Perfian, who feems 
to hold in his hand a roll of parchment. This aflemblage 
of figures is encompafied with a multitude of ornamental 
feftoons of leaves, and garlands of corymbiated fpar. They 
are whimfically diverfified, and occupy an intercolunmia- 
tion of pillars, which are chiefly engaged, though fome 
are infulated, and embelliflied with (hining cryftalizations, 
and ftalagmites of great beauty. In many places, the fpar 
has aflumed a more flattened appearance, frequently re- 
fembling lingulated leaves, with a thickened margin ; 
often projecting from the wall by a thin edge; and in 
other parts compofing large curtains of natural and ealy 
flowing drapery, the folds of which are difpofed in har¬ 
monious order. Sometimes thefe foliated (talaftites de- 
fcend in regular feries, and look as if ltrung, or united at 
the foot-ftalks, as in the heraldic chaplet. Several por¬ 
tions of the wall, particularly on the left fide, are entirely 
fmooth, without any prominent ftalaitite, though, where 
the incruftation is here fpread out, and covers the whole 
wall, it is equally white and pure as in any part of this 
extraordinary fubterranean grotto. Befides thefe various 
arrangements of this fparry concretion, there are on the 
fides numerous other (liapes, which baffle every attempt 
to give them a name, or to delineate the multiplicity of 
cryftalizations of which they are compofed. 
The pool is here to be crofted upon a plank which is 
laid over it ; and fome caution will be neceflary left the 
paflenger lofe his balance, and be plunged into it. A 
fimpk 
