in the Indian manner; and some of them represented animals which bear no resemblance to any I have ever heard of or seen. While occupied in this research, I discovered an orifice in the roof of the cave, which appeared to work up a funnel to the surface of the earth. It was as large as an ordinary chimney, and placed directly in the centre of the roof. The access was very difficult, and yet an encrease of curiosity determined me to find out whither the passage led. In consequence I ordered a long hickery to be cut down, to be notched for the feet, and reared up against the mouth of the opening. My men seemed to think the passage might lead to the lurking place of a banditti. They were much alarmed and used every persuasion to turn me from my design. It was to no purpose. With a dirk in my breast, and a pair of pistols in my girdle, I mounted by means of the tree, and received a light from my

servant, who insisted on following me, while Cuff remained as a centinel below, ready to fire a 'signal on any person's approach. With much difficulty I strained through the aperture, which appeared to form a perpendicular passage of fourteen feet; and to my great astonishment arrived in an apartment of greater magnitude than that from which I had immediately ascended, and of infinitely more splendor, magnificence and variety. It expanded on all sides of the orifice, through which I mounted, and at first gave no determinate ideas. The mind on the contrary was confused and stupified by so vague and incomprehensible a scene of gloom, diversity and vastAs I advanced, by the assistance of the lights, I began to discover the outlines of a large vault of great height and proportionate extent. The roof, which was arched, the sides and natural pillars that supported it, seemed at first sight

ness.

to be cut out and wrought into innumerable figures and ornaments, not unlike those of a gothic cathedral. These were formed by a thousand perpetual distillations of the coldest and most petrifying quality imaginable, and which besides, exhibited an infinite number of objects that bore some imperfect resemblance to many different kinds of animals. At the farther end of this large vault was an opening, which served as a descent to another vault of very great depth, as I judged from a stone cast in, whose reverberation was not returned for the space of several seconds. The descent was too rapid to be practicable, and can never be attempted but by some rash adventurer, careless whether he survives or perishes. While contemplating the frightful chasm, my servant approached me with some agitation and recommended me to descend. On demanding the cause, he conducted me to a part of the

cave he had been examining, and there I had the horror to discover the objects of his apprehension: they consisted of human bones, some in a promiscuous heap, and some forming a complete skeleton. These were the skeletons of very recent subjects; and five others, by their difference in preservation, appeared to belong to a very remote period. Two of the skulls were beaten in, and several bones were fractured and broken, from which I inferred that murder had been committed, and that the dreadful reports respecting the cave were neither fabulous nor exaggerated. I met with a number of other fragments of skeletons, and some bones of deer and other animals, from which I presume that the banditti who infested the river sometimes dwelt in the upper as well as in the lower cave, and that most of their victims were immolated therein to save appearances and avoid detection. From

the remains it would appear that upwards of sixty persons must have perished in the cave, either by the hand of the assassin, or from want, as it is possible that some unfortunate beings might have taken shelter there from pursuit and not been able to extricate themselves again from the labyrinth for with the assistance light, of which the persecuted could not have been prepared, I found it extremely difficult to find the aperture which I entered. Perhaps half an hour was occupied in the painful search. I fired a pistol off, which I knew would bring my faithful Mandanean to our relief, but I did not know that its effect would be terrific and its report tremendous. The operation was too rapid to submit to description, and the facts too glaring to invite belief. No thunder could exceed the explosion, no echo return so strong a voice. My man fell as insensible at my feet and I staggered se