Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1843-01-26
WOODSTOCK, VIRGINIA JANUARY IS, 1913

which her hand was to reduce TO form
and order. We retraced oar steps slow
~ and iingeringly through these spbter-
ranean palaces, feeling THAI enc day was
not nearly sufficient to explore thea. yet
thankful that we had not lett the country
without seeing them The skeleton OF IA
man was discovered by some travellers,
living on his side, the head nearly cover
ed with rystaIization. He had probably
entered these slabyrinths alone, either
from rash curiosity. or TO escape from
| pursuit, lost his way, and persisted from
hunger Indeed, 10 find the way back
to the enfrauce of the cave Is nearly I'M
possible, without some clue to guide the
steps amongst those winding galleries,
balls, issues, and entries, and divided
corridors.
Though tsere are some objects so stri-
king that they may Immediately be recog-
Missed such as the amphitheatre. tor n
stance-there is uIonotony even In the
variety and can imagine the untortu-
nate man wandering amongst obelisks
and pyramids. and alabaster baths and
Grecian cUlumns-amongst frozen tor
rents that could not asAuage ills THIRST
sntl trees with marble fruit and foliage,
and crystal vegetables that Knocked his
hunger; and pale phantoms, with long
hair, and figures in shrouds, that could
not relieve his distress--and tben his
cries for help, where the voice gives out
an echo, as if all the pale jewellers III the
cave answered ia mockery--and then.
his torch becoming eXtingushed, and he
lying down exhausted in despair, near
some inhospitab!e porch, to die.
AS we went along, our guides had
climbed up and placed wax candles Oh
the top of all the highest pulnts. SO that
! their pale gIimmeiieg light pointed out
| the way to US OH our return. The indi-
aus begged that they might be lett there
'on account Of the blessed souls in pIrg-
atory,' which was done. AS We return
ed, we saw Que fi5ure we had not obsef-
we'd before, which looks something like
a woman mounted on an enormous goat.
/ To one hall, on account OF its beauty.
some travellers have given the name of
the Hall of Angels tits said that, by
I observation, the height Of the stalagmltes
( might determine the age of their forma-
ton; but where is the enterprising seol-
ogist who would shut himseli UP IN these
crystal solitudes sufficiently long for cor
rect observation !!
| never saw nor could have imagined
50 beautiful an effect as that OF the day
| light in the distance, entering by the
mouth of the cave; such a FAINT misty
blue, contrasted with the fierce red light
of the torches, and broken by the pillars
| through which its pale rays struggled
1t looked so pure and holy, that it seem
ed like the light from an Angels wings
at the portals Of the scS ia doleafe.7 What
would that poor traveller have given IL
have seen its friendly rays! After climb
ing out, and leaving the damp, cool, sub
terraueous air, the atmosphere felt dry
and warm, as we set downs to rest at the
mouth of the cavern, surrounded by our
subterranean torch bearers. Truly, Ma
i ture is no coquette. She adofns herself
with greater riches in the darkest moan
tain cave, than On the highest mountain
top.
We were sitting in Thoughtful silence,
ourselves, Indians, and all, ip a circle,
when we saw, stumping down the hill,
in great haste, aud apparently III great
wrath, an nInsiiaE alcade, with a thick
staff in his hand, at whose approach the
Indians locke aWe-struck. he carried
in his brown hand a large letter, Oh
which was w.itten, In large type, .Aitse-
nor dominate de esta carayana gente.'
i To the commander of this caravan o!
people.' This missive set forth that the
justice of the peace Of the city of Capt-
la Amilpas begged to know by what right,
by whose authority, and with what inten-
tions we had entered this cave without
permission from the government; and
desired the ssenor dorminante' to appear
forthwith before the said jnstic, for con-
tempt of his authority. The spelling
of the letter was too amusing. The In
dams looked very much alarmed. and,
when they saw us laugh. still more aston
ished. C--n wrote with a pencil, III
answer to the summons. that he was the
Spanish minister, and wished good day
to the aIca,le, who plodded up the bill a.
gain, very i'll pleased.
no: TO ~ 1855
/ From Sears IN. w Magazine for Jan.
. b. H