PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 
175 
Accordingly, on Saturday last, we set out for the Cave, on reaching which, we 
seemed with one consent to stop and gaze with feelings of admiration on the highly 
picturesque and grand appearance of the mouth, richly clothed as it is at this season 
in all the varied tints of green, as exhibited in the young foliage of the several 
species of shrubs with which the edges of the entrance of the Cave are fringed, from 
the light green of the deciduous thorn and elder to the very sombre tint of the ever¬ 
green ivy. Our feelings of admiration were, however, mingled with regret on 
observing that some thoughtless visitor had injured much of the brushwood at one 
side of the entrance to the Cave by having set fire to it. 
Every well-disposed person should endeavour to prevent wanton injury of this 
description from being committed on our natural scenery, antiquities, or the modern 
decorations of places of public resort. 
Amongst the plants which grow around the mouth of the Cave are two or three 
varieties of fern, one of them, the hart’s-tongue fern (Phyllitis Scolopendrium) seems 
to flourish vigorously at a distance of ten or twelve feet within the arch of the Cave. 
Having advanced a short way into the Cave, and having ascertained the point from 
which O’Neill made his much-admired painting, we were struck with its cor¬ 
rectness. I had also brought a sketch-book with me, which contained an equally 
faithful, but rough drawing, of the same view, made by the late George Miller. 
Having now lighted our candles, we proceeded to explore the chambers, the 
details of which have been so well described by the late Mr. Robertson, in the notes 
already read to you, that I shall not further dwell upon them than to say, that we 
lighted up the “ Market Cross,” and examined Miller’s sketch of it, which, although 
executed upwards of forty years ago, is still a most faithful likeness, even to the large 
fracture wantonly made in one of the stalactic flutings of this bold pillar. On 
arriving at the point from which the fissure disclosing “ the light of day” is seen, we 
came to the conclusion (confirmed with the aid of a compass, brought by Mr. 
Graves) that we had described a semicircle in our progress through the chambers ; 
and that the water and wet stones which we saw through the fissure, were on the 
ground near the entrance to the “Fairies’ Floor,” which is on the right hand as 
you enter the cave. 
We now proceeded to explore the southern chamber, which is of great length, 
but less broken in the outline of its plan than the other chambers. Having ad¬ 
vanced into it, until we were obliged to stoop, we arrived at the well or reservoir of 
water, which is formed by a hollow in a deposit of sandy mud, the rocky side of 
the Cave forming one brink of the pool; next to this side the water is deepest. 
The water is not only very pure, but agreeable to the taste, notwithstanding the 
large quantity of bones which it contains, proving thereby their great antiquity. 
In the immediate vicinity of the well, fragments of bones are also very abundant, 
embedded in the sandy soil, to which I have alluded, and which appears to be the 
earthy deposit brought down by the water percolating through the fissures in the 
ceiling of the Cave. From this sandy deposit, this part of the Cave probably 
derives its name of the “rabbit burrow.” 
We collected and carried away a great many fragments of bones, but having 
submitted them to Dr. Johnson, I find that they are all bones which belonged to 
different parts of the human frame, embracing portions of the skull, jaw-bone, 
arms, "fingers, and toes. We could observe that visitors have made many exca¬ 
vations in search of bones. One large bone, which is encrusted to the surface 
of the rocky floor, has been nearly destroyed by attempts to remove it, by striking 
it with hammers ; a light iron wedge would have been more effective. 
Having concluded our observations in this chamber, we retraced our steps 
towards the mouth, and in doing so we set up a few lights, which continued to 
burn during our retreat. 
The effect was very pleasing, as the outline of the ceiling, with the inequalities 
of the floor, were all clearly defined. We also ascertained in this way that the 
current of air was outwards , as the flame flickered towards the mouth of the Cave, 
and the smoke made its exit in the same direction. After a careful examination of 
the several chambers of this remarkable Cave, we have come to the conclusion : — 
That human and other hones are confined not only to one chamber , hut to a parti¬ 
cular part of that chamber—the immediate vicinity of the well. 
