that I did, with the additional improvement of having several more persons to carry lights.

The grey-coloured roof is in many places so even and smooth, that I was almost tempted to suppose it artificial.

Having proceeded a long way beyond "the Second Hoppers" we arrived at "the Grand Hall" or "Grand Crossing."

The roof is in parts at least seventy feet high, and the floor which is irregular in form cannot be of less dimensions than an acre. By placing ourselves in different parts we obtained a pretty good view of this vast Hall, but we had not lights enough to render the whole simultaneously visible. Here, while I gazed at my companions as they sat on different fragments of rock, with the red light glaring upon them, I could almost fancy them statues, placed there by some mighty spirit to deter all intruders from entering.

Continuing to advance in the main passage, we passed a very rough and rocky part of the cavern, where the whole floor was so thickly pow dered with small crystals of Glauber Salt, that it resembled a hoar frost, and rendered walking very unpleasant and slippery.

Every here and there in the cavern are found large poles, and broken pieces of cane burnt at the ends, which were no doubt made use of by the Indians, who attempted to explore it, having been found there by the first whites, who, a few

T

years ago, discovered and penetrated into these subterraneous passages.

Proceeding onwards, we came to "the Great Black Hall," so called from the colour of the sides and roof. In one part of this is a singular mass of white rock, which, when the light shines upon it, forms a strong contrast to the dark colour of the surrounding walls. It has been called "the Devil's Throne," and from its peculiar appearance and situation, put me in mind of the throne of Lucifer, as described in that curious tale, the Caliph Vatheck. I prevailed on Mr. Miller to ascend this rock with the light in his hand, while I retired to the further part of the chamber. When he was standing on the top, which rises upwards of twenty feet above the lowest part of the floor, I could almost fancy that gentleman, who is a man of great stature, to be his Satanic Majesty himself, presiding in this his Hall.

We continued advancing until we were, according to Mr. Miller's account, about two miles and a half from the mouth of the cave. From the fatigue of walking on such an uneven surface, and the violent perspiration occasioned by taking so much exercise in such an increased temperature, I began here to be somewhat tired. I therefore determined to return to the House, and to reenter the cavern the next day, taking with me more lights, and some provision, that I might stay as long as I pleased. Mr. Miller informed me,

that it was not more than half a mile to the extreme end, to which he had himself penetrated several times; “ "but," added he, "you will not see any thing worth the trouble of the walk, as, instead of increasing, the cave diminishes in size." The different distances I have mentioned are upon the authority of Mr. Miller, who has measured many of them. I have no doubt that they are nearly correct; though being myself unaccustomed to such long walks under ground, I should have supposed many of them to be greater than he said they were.

There are many chambers and branches leading from the main passage, which Mr. Miller wished me to visit, but which, from a foolish procrastination, I deferred seeing, and consequently, as it too often happens in such cases, I never saw at all.

We were just six hours and a half from the time we lighted our candles until we put them out again. During the whole of this time we had been walking at a good pace and did not sit down more than three times, and then only for a few minutes.

On returning from so long a subterraneous expedition, I found the light very painful to my eyes, particularly as the pure snow and numerous icicles at the mouth of the cave were sparkling in the rays of the sun, and therefore made a very strong contrast to the "darkness visible" of the interior. But this pain in the eyes was the least misfortune

I experienced; for upon quitting the cave, and forgetting to wait until I was cool, the icy air rushing in at the narrows gave me such a cold and stiff neck, that although I staid at Mr. Miller's four days longer, I never dared to re-enter the

cavern.

Though I visited only a portion of this subterranean wonder, I saw the most interesting part, and indeed as much as is worth any person's while. to see, unless he wishes to gratify his vanity by saying he has seen the whole.

It is however much to be desired that some one would give an accurate and complete description of so extraordinary a place. This could not be done in less than a day and a half, or two days; but by taking in some provisions, it might easily be ac complished. The cavern would not by any means be an unpleasant place to sleep in, as it is dry and warm; and the air is rendered remarkably pure by the falling water of the springs, and also by the abundance of nitre.

This cave has indeed been visited by a Mr. N. Ward, who has given a description of it, accompanied with a pretended map. This person, who seems to have been endowed with a vivid imagination, does not hesitate to affirm that he went in and followed the main passage, without coming to the end, for eleven miles!! Mr. Miller, who has lived on the spot for fifteen years, assured me that

he had several times been to the end of the cavern, and that it is not more than three or at most three miles and a quarter from the mouth. As Mr. Miller acted as agent for the proprietors while the cave was worked for saltpetre, he may be considered good authority. Mr. Ward also affirms, that the floor of the Grand Hall is of the size of eight acres, an account very symptomatic of inten tional exaggeration. His map, which I examined before I went in, proves still more than either of the instances I have adduced, that works upon topography should not be written by lovers of the marvellous.

The proprietors of the cave are unwilling that any accurate survey of it should be made; for although they possess several thousand acres round the mouth, there is little doubt but that, from the vast extent of the cave, it goes beneath some other person's property. By help of an accurate map a shaft might be sunk; and in the event of another great demand for saltpetre, a part of the cave might be worked to the detriment of the present proprietors.

They do not however object to any one's taking in a compass with them, and this would enable a person to take a sufficiently accurate plan of it for all purposes of mere curiosity.

It was called the Mammoth Cave, not from any of the mammoth bones being found in it, but in