The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1843-05-02

came dancing into the world with the garands gather
ed in the gardens of heaven. Dow JR.
EXTRACTS FROM sTEvENs's INCIDENTS OF
TRAVEL IN YUCATAN.
VISIT AN EXTRAORDINARY CAvE.-At the
distance ola league from the village, (Boon ohen) on
Campeachy road, we turned off by well beaten
path, following which we fell into winding lane,
and, descending gradually reached the foot of wide,
lofty, and abrupt opening, under bold ledge Of owe
hanging rock, seeming magnificent entrance to
great temple for the worship Of the God of Nature
We disincumbered ourselves of superfuous apparel,
and, following the Indian, each with torch in hand,
entered wild cavern, which as we advanced became
darker. AT the distance of sixty PAGES the descent
was PERCEPTIONS and we went down by ladder about
20 feet. Here all light from the mouth of the cavern
was lost, but soon reached the brink Of great
perpendicular descent, TO the very bottom of which
a strong body of light thrown from a hole in the
surface, perpendicular depth, afterwards
learned by measurement, of 2lO feet. AS we stood
the brink of this precpce, under the shelving Of
an immense of rock, seeming darker from the
stream Of light thrown down the hole, gigantic stalac-
tites and huge blocks OF stones assumed all manner
of fantastic shapes, and med like monstrous ami
mails or deites Of n su bteranean world From the
brink on which stood an enormous ladder OF the
rudcst possible construction, led to the bottom Of the
hole. 1t was between seventy and eighty feet long,
and about twelve feet wide, made Of the rough
trunks Of saplings lashed together lengthwse, and
supported all the way down by horizontal trunks
braccd against she face Of the pitous rock. The
ladder double, having two sets flights Of
rounds, divided by middle partition, and the whole
fabric was dashed together with withes 1t was very
steep, seemed precarious and insecure, and confirmed
the worst accounts I'VE had heard of the descent into
this remarkable WELL Our Indians began the descent,
but the foremost had scarcely got his head below
the surface when of the rounds slipped and he
only saved himself by clinging to another. The lad
ner having been made when the wi,hes were green,
these dry, cracked and some of them bro
ken. We attempted descent with some little mis-
giving, but by keeping each hand and foot differ
emf round with an occasional crash and slide we all
reached the foot of the ladder.
Looking up, the view of the broken sides with the
light thrown down from the ori6ce above, was the
widest that be conceived AS yet the reader on
Iy at the mouth of this wel but, to explain tohim
briefly its extraordinary character, give its name,
which is, Xtaeumbi Human. The Indians understand
by this, La Sonora escondida, the lady hidden
that lady, stolen from her mother, was concealed
by her lover in this Every year, when the we'll
of the plaza are about to fail, the ladders put in
to a thorough state of repair. day is appointed by
the municipality for closing the wells Of the plaza
and repairing TO the cueva and on that day great
village fete held in the at the foot off the lad
der. On the sides leading to the wells is a rugged
chamber with lofty hanging roof, and level
platform. The walls OF this rocky chamber dress
sed with branches and HING with lights, and the
whole village comes out with refreshments and music
The is with them, leader of the mirth; and
the day is passed ia dancing in the cavern, and re-
joicing that when one Of supply falls another
is open to their need. On side Of the
there is opening in the rock, entering by which we
soon camo to an abrupt descent, down which was
other long and trying ladder 1t was laid against the
broken face of the rock, not steep the first but
in much more rickety condition; the rounds were
loose, and the upper ones gave way on the first at
Temps to descend. The cave damp, and the
rock and ladder were wet and slippery. At this
place our attendants left U.S. the mnistro being the
last to desert u.s. 1t evident that the labor Of
ploring this cave TO be greatly Increased by the
state of the ladders and there might be some danger at
tending but even all had seen oil the caves, There
was something SO wild aud grand in this, that we
could not bring ourselves to give up the attempt
Fortunately the had taken care to provide us
with ropes, and, fastening one end round large
stone. an Indian carrcdth other down to the foot
9TH, ladder We followed, one at a time, holding
the rome with one hand and with the other grasping
The side of the ladder; If was impossible to carry
torch, and we were obliged to feel our way in the