Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-09-28
MISCELLANY.
BRAVERY AND ADVENTURE.
ar. Lsgh's descent into tho causrns OF
<b. CrocodiLeS

bhA VEN HNND AZ
Mr.. Lsgh's descent unto the causrns OF
the Crocodilss.
The only remnant left among US OF
that romantic spirit which in former
times sent so many bold peers OF
Cbristendom in quest of adventures
in unquestionably the curiosity OF
those interchangeable travellers, who
go abroad to gather fame by collect
ing materials foa publication. The
very least of the harGships which Mr..
Leigh suffered would have furnished
long chapter to the lengthiest romance
writer of the brightest days OF Chi
valry. It's questionable indeed, 1t
ever Orlandes himself met with an
adventure more appalling than this
eenrleman's descent into the caverns
Of the crocodiles at Manfaloat.
We had been wandering (says he)
for more than an hour in low subter-
ranean passages. and felt considera-
bly, fatigued by the irksOmeness ofthe
posture in which we had been oblig.
to move. and the heat Of our torches
in those narrow and low galleries.
But the Arabs spoke SO confidently
of succeeding in this second trial,
that we we're induced once more to
attend them. We found the opening
of the chamber which we now APP
preached guarded by trench OF un-
known depth, and wide enough to re-
ouire a good leap. The first Arab
Jumped the ditch and we all followed
him The passage We entered was
extremely small. and so low 10 some
nlaces az to oblige US to crawl Hat on
the ground. and almost always on
ON our hands and knees. The intri.
Gates Of its windiugs resembled la
byrinth: and il terminated at length
in a chamber much smaller than that
we had left; but like it. containing
nothing to satisfy our curiosity
Our search hitherto had been fruit
less; but the mummies might not be
far distant-another effort, aud we
might still be successful.
The Arab whom / followed, and
who led the way. now entered ano-
ther gallery, and we all continued to
move in the same manner as before,
each preceded by a guide. We had
not gone far before the heat became
excessive; for my own part. I found
my breathing extremely ditficult-my
head began to ache most violently,and
I had most distressing sensation of
fu,lness about the breast. We felt
we had gone too far, and yet were
almost deprived of the power of re-
turning. At this moment the torch
of the first Arab went out. was
close to him, and saw him fall on his
side; he uttered groan-his legs
were strongly convulsed. and | heard
a rafting noise in his throat--he was
dead. The Arab behind me seeing
the torch of his companion extin-
guished, and conceiying he had stun.
bled, passed me. advanced to his as
sistance and stopped. observed
him to appear faint, tOtter, and fall
in mament-he also was dead. -
Tho third Arab came forward, and
made an effort to approach the DO.
dies. but stopped short. We looked
at each other in silent horror. The
danger increased every instant: our
torches burnt faintly-our breathing
became more difficult--our knees
tottercd under US, and we felt our
strength nearly gone.
There was no time to be lost. The
american, Barthow, cried to us to
take courage, and we began to move
back as fast as We could. We heard
tho remaining Arab shouting after
ns, calling US Caffres, imploring our
assistance, and upbraiding US with