The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1865-09-28

lung eIo We COulu Scc ClcIIl, eClOllS cIlQ
re-echoing until seemingly lost in the
dense darkness far beyond, then, like a
vision from fairy-land, came the boat,
drifting slowly down towards us with
its bright freight; cleaving the blackness
with the swaying lights, which sent out
on the black bosom of the water thousands
of sparkling ripples. 1t was q sight
never to be forgotten.
Climbing hill Of sand we left the
rivers behind us, and passed into ''Silli-
mans Avenue" which is mile and d
half long, extending from Echo River to
the ssPass of El-Ghor."
The Internal Region is situated in
"Silliman's Avenue" and probably re-
ceives its name from the fact that it is
impossible to navigate through II With
out getting a fall-the floor is 50 wet and
slippery. After leaving this region We
prepared to climb the "Hill of Fatigue"
which leads to an immense rock, eal1ed
the "Great Western" the end ef which
resembles the stern Of ship; then we
passed into cole BpH's Concert Room,"
in which he once performed, and in
which is a Rock, called the "Rabbit,"
from its resemblance to shat animal.
Leaving the "Avenue,n we entered
ssRhoda's Arcade" the walls Of which
are of Undesirable beauty when lighted
up. There is q large collection Of fine
stalacites in the "Araade,n and the floor
| is streWn with white crystals, which
flashed among our feet ike fallen jewels.
'Iucy's Dome" comes lIeNt, ,snd is the
highest dome in the land, being over
four hundred feet in height.
Through the ''Passof El-Ghor,o which
is over two miles long, we next journey
ed. The sides are rough and wild ia ap-
pearanee, and over head the 95Tansing
Rock'so aresuspended, Thieilseenl every
moment about to fall. We fingered
some time in the "Fly Chamber which
is one Of the greatest eaHiositses il Tie
land. The ceiling is studded tlici1ly
with crystals Of black gypsum, a5oll5 }he
size Of a common fly, and So perfect in
the resemblance, That we listened hear
them buzz when q hat was THROWN
against the ceiling BY one Of Tie party.
Having been shown q rock, resembling
a aCroWn - the 'fBFacx ITola e. a's9lt-
ta,n situated 10 the left Of tbs tVea1e,
a place deep aud terrible; and e{fstella's
Dome,n which rests directly Over tho
centre OF the "Ayenue,7 and sFiAieh is
forty feet hist4 and nine vide re 1azsed
On to "ifebe's Spring." Nhieh sc zssyea-
ed by descending about G7e fast through
q narrow cut, and where we wet eur
parched threats with water, strongly
imrregnated with sulphur. Ascending
a ladder twenty feet, we entered "21ar-
that's Vineyard" the walls Of which are
thiclzly studded With stalactites, rosemb-
ling in shape lunches of grapes. 4 very
large stalactite extending from ceiling
to floor is called the "Grape-Nine.' 1t
issaid thatsomeyears ago, a small grape
vine was carried, and planted in the
cave. For a long time it did not appear
to grow, but finally took root and -four
ished, twining up around a large sta
lagmite, it's tendrils and leaves being
perfectly white and transparent. Some
curiosity -hunter, minus a conscience, is
supposed to have pulled it up and carried
it off.
In "Washington HAIL. which is sixty
feet wide, twenty high, and one hundred
in length, we all sat down to rest, and
have our lamps refilled from the cans Of
Oil kept there for that purpose; and then
with our most brilliant lights we pro-
ceeded to "Snow Ball Chamber" This
magnificent room "Nick'' lit up with
Bengal lights, and the effect was indes-
cribable. The ceiling is covered with
masses of white gypsum, which bear a
perfect resemblance to large snow-balfs.
"Mary's Bower" is also very brilliantly
Ornamented with rosettes of white gyp-
sum.
The next chamber, which is nearly
two miles long is profusely decorated
with alabaster flowers. 1t is called
6 (,leaVelanu's CaDinet,o after the dis