The Nevada Democrat. [volume] (Nevada, Calif.) 1854-1863, 1857-06-03

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In the Mexican Extraordinary, of recent date,
we find an account of q visit to the great Cave
of Cuernavaca, situated about mile from the
village of Cacahuamilha, distant from the city
of Mexico thirty-three leagues It's remote sit
uation, and difficulty of access are the only
reasons why it has not attained the celebrity
which its vast extent as well as the beauty OF
sparry concretions, richly merit. The writer
says:
Ascending ohliquely the PERCEPTIONS western
side of the ravine, we reaceed the mouth of the
cave. Unlike most other caverns, the entrance
of this is worthy of the grandeur within. An
arch as vast and almost as regular as that of
the Ralto of Venice, opens at once into the
mountain. 1t is eyerhung by trees and crossed
by q ridge of earth and stones, the debris of the
hill above. Standing on the ridge, we look
down its inner slope to the level floor Of the
cave and into the gathering darkness, where the
shadowy forms of sparry statues seem to beckon
us on to the wonders beyond. The torches are
soon lighted and we take leave of the green
trees aud pleasant sunshine for stroll among
forests of stone and under rocky sky. Tall
columns of glistening spar appear as we ad-
vance, while the walls are covered at frequent
intervals with sheets Of crystalline deposit like
frozen waterfalls.
"The floor is broad and level, consisting most
ly of dry and crumbling earth. 1t is paved
! in places with spar, or covered by singular
network of low ridges of the same material.
The cave increases, rather than otherwise, as
We proceed. Its average width is not less than
thirty yards, while the glare of the torches
scarcely reaches the dusky arch above. About
quarter of q mile from the entrance, the cave
is nearly closed by row Of enormous stalag-
mites, which have been formed across the pas
sage, leaving only single opening not wider
than common doorway. This is called the
Puerta. Through it you enter directly into the
largest apartment Of the cavern, which the guide
announces as the Sala del Pantheon Here
he cave spreads out to double its ordinary
width, forming vast rotunda, surmounted
by lofty arch. For great part of the cir
:umfercnce the walls are ceilcd with silent
cataracts' Of snowy spar. Towards the further
side but still at distance from the wall, stands
the most interesting object in the cavern. 1t is
a cylindrical column of crystalline spar, about
twenty feet in diameter and twenty-five in hight
Its top is apparently quite flat, while the sides
are 6utcd and columned and covered with all
the fret-work which nature is wont to carve in
her subterranean studio. The base of the
column is a terraced pedestal, of which each is
an exquisitely crystalized basn that was both
formed and filed by the water which once dripp-
! ed upon the column and flowed down its sides.
| doubt if auy cavern in any part Of the world
can furnish any single object more beautiful or
imposing than this massive pillar of glittering
crystal.
continues on in the same general direction as
before. But we soon come to a hill of angular
rocks, which have fallen from the roof Over
these we Chamber with some difficulty and
little risk of bruises, and reach the smooth and
level way-perhaps another quarter of q mile,
we reach another cluster of gigantic pillars,
which nearly close the passage. One of these
about twelve feet in diameter, has fallen pros
a,l l., itc IuoI md trsc
layers. like the annual rings in the trunk of a
forest tree. With time and patience, doubt
not the number OF alternate dry aud rainy sea-
sous required for its enormous growth might
have been counted on this curious record. Sc
veral pools of delicious water, at the base of
these pillars afford q welcome rcfreshment
Many rockets were fired in different parts of the
cave to ascertain its hight Generally they
would strike the roof, and return in time to eX-
plode among the party But in some places,
when well directed, they would scarcely reach
the lofty arch before their force was spent.
"The guides assured us that the cave had no
end, and as too much time would have been
required to dsprove their assertion, if indeed
it could be disproved at all, we retraced our
steps towards the entrance. They also affirmed
that further within the roaring of river may
be distinctly heard. This fact confirms the
obvious conjecture that the cave was formed
and once occupied by the same river which now
issues from the mountain by later-found aud
lower channel 1t is even probable, that at it's
farthest extremity the cave is still merged in
the unchanged bed of the stream. The rock
throughout is thick beddcd, massive limestone,
which is indeed the only material in which such
q cavern could have been excavated.
''Thc view, as we emerged from the dark
ness into the twilight of the entrance is supurb.
The torches should be cxtinguished or left be-
hind as soon as the growing light enables one
to walk with certainty. A luxurant plant
!, covers the inner slope of the earthly mound, far
down under the broad arch each leaf instinc-
lively turning its broad surface towards the
opening. The rays transmitted through these
leaves aided by the overhanging forest, impart
to all the light which enters deep bluish-green
tinge far superior in beauty to any artificial
illumination"