Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1843-02-07
From the Washington Globe.
THE CAVE OF CACAHUAMILP A

From the Washington Globe.
THE CAVE OF CACAHUAMILPA A.
One of the natural wonders of Mexico is the
great cave of Cacahuamipa, near the city OF eau
tamilpa. 1t was visited by the author of Life in
Mexico, during her soourn in that city. She thus
described it:
The cave Of Cacahuamilp a-whose ac-
tual wonders equal the tabled descriptions
of the palaces Of genii-was, until lately,
known to the Indians alone; or, if the
Spaniards formerly knew anything about
it, its existence was forgotten amongst
them. But, although, in former days, 1t
might have been used as a place of wor-
ship, superstitious fear prevented the
more modern Indians from exploring its
shining recesses; for here, it was firmly
believed, the evil spirit had his dwelling,
and, in the form Of a goat, with long beard
and horns, guarded the entrance OF the
cavern. The few who ventured there,
and beheld this appariton, brought back
strange tales to their credulous companions;
and even the neighborhood of the enchan-
ted cave was avoided, especially at night
fall.
The chain Of mountains into whose bo-
som it leads, is bleak and bare; but the
ravine below is refreshed by a rapid
stream, that forms small waterfalls as 1t
tumbIes over the rocks, and is bordered by
green and Towering trees. Amongst these
is one with smooth, satin-like bark, OF a
pale golden color, whose roots have some
thing snakish and witch-ike in their APP
pearance, INTERVENING each other, graphing
as it were with the hard rock, and stretch
ing out to the most extraordinary distance.
We arrived at the entrance of the cave,
a superb portal, upwards Of seventy feet
high and one hundred and fifty wide, &C
cording 10 the computation OF learned
traveller; the rocks which support the
great arch are so symmetrically disposed
as to resemble a work Of art. The sun
was already high in the heavens, shining
with intense brightness on the wild scenery
that surrounded US, the rocks and trees
and rushing waters; sensation OF awe
came over us as we stood at the mouth Of
the cave; and, turning from day to night,
strained our eyes to look down deep de-
scent into a gigantic vaulted hall, family
lighted by the red embers of fire which
the Indians had kindled near the entrance.
We made our way down declivity Of Git
may be) one hundred and fifty feet, sur
rounded by blocks Of stone and rock, and
remained lost in establishment at finding
ourselves in this gloomy subterranean pa
lace, surrounded by the most extraordina-
nv, gigantic, land mysterious forms, which,
it is scarcely possible to believe, are the
fantastic productions Of the water which
constantly trickles from the roof.
] am shocked to confess i'll would
prefer passing it over; but we had tasted
nothing that morning. and we had rode Tor
eight hours, and were dying with hunger!
Moreover, we travelled with cook, a We
nv tolerabie native artist, bnt without sem
tlment--his heart in a stew pan;) and he,
without the least conjunction, had begun
his frying and 5roling operations in what
seemed the very ves,ibule Of Pharaoh's
palace. Our own mozOS and our Indian
guides were assisting his operations with
the utmost zeal; and in few minutes
some sitting round the fire, and others upon
broken pvramids-we refreshed ourselves
with fried chickens, bread, and hard eggs,
before proceeding farther on our exploring
expedition. Unromantic as this proceeding
was, we looked, Indians and all, rather
awful, with no other light than the ruddy
glare of the fire Pickering upon the
strange, gigantic forms in that vast laby-
rinth; and as 10 what we felt, our valor
and strength of mind were increased seven
fold.
Twenty-cour huge pine torches were
then lighted, each man carrying one. To |
K and me were given lighted wax can
dies, in case, by accident, any one should |
60 .astray from his companions, and lose
his way-as would too certainly happen, 10
the different windings, and galleries, and
Of the cave-and be alone
in the darkness! We walked on, in awe
and wonder; the guides lighting up the
sides Of the cavern with their torches
Unfortunately, it is indscribable; as in the
fantastic forms Of the clouds. every one
sees some different creation of his fancy
in these stupendous masses. 1t is said that
he first sala for travellers have pretended
10 divide it into halls, and very little I'm.
agination may do so, is about two hundred
ieet long, and one hundred and seventy
vide, and one hundred and fifty in height
"a noble apartment. The walls are sha-
led with different colors Of green and or
ange; great sheets Of stalactites hang from
he roof; and white phantoms, palm trees,
ofty pillars, pyramids, porches, and
thousand other illusions, surround US on
Ill sides. One figure, concerning which
al agree, is a long haired goat-the Evil
One in that form. But some one has bro
Ken the head--perhaps to show the pow
,rlessness Of the enchanted guardian OF
he cave. Some say that there are no Ii
wing animals here, but there is no doubt
hat there are bats; and an exploring party