122 CAVE OF BIELS HOHLE—CONTAINS NO BONES. STALAGMITE. 
posite side of the gorge, e, and on the right bank of theB ode river. 
(See Plate XVI.) No bones have as yet been discovered in it, nor 
does it contain any such lofty and broad chambers, as those at Scharz- 
feld, and Baumans Hohle: it is composed of a succession of cavernous 
vaults, ascending and descending irregularly in the transition lime¬ 
stone, and communicating with, and intersected by, other similar 
tubes, which traverse the body of the rock in various directions 
(see Plate XVI. c. c. c.) It is remarkable for the beauty of the 
stalactite that hangs from its roof, and the quantity of stalagmite that 
forms an universal cover of considerable thickness over its floor; 
but it has not as yet been discovered to contain bones. In passing 
through it, we are obliged to ascend by ladders a succession of rocky 
projections or pinnacles (see Plate XVI. d. d. d.), between which 
we descend into as many intervening hollows or basins of unequal 
size and height, b. b. b. ; and having entered by the small hole a in 
the cliff, overhanging the Eiver Bode, we come out by an artificial 
hole in the same cliff, at a small distance from the former. Other 
cavities of the same kind rise probably to the surface of the land by 
the tubes c. c. c., and are choked up by diluvium. The dotted lines 
f. g. represent the restoration of the rock and of the tube a to the 
state in which they probably existed before the excavation of the 
gorge e. 
This cave appears to be one of those which has never been 
inhabited as a den by wild beasts, as had it been so, it is probable 
some traces of bones would have been found in the excavations 
which have been dug in its floor, for the purpose of making an easy 
path for visitors, that crowd to see the beauty of its stalactite. To 
