The Hazlehurst signal., 1883-12-27
Portal gives into a cave worn into tho

fOrtaI gives into cave worn INTO tno
massive ledge of limestone. The cave
widcns slightly from the entrance, and
Is one hundred and eighty feet wide at
its amplcst part, and four hundred
feet long. Tho floor IL the crystal
wave, except in the back part, where
the rocks are exposed, and afford
firm footing for the explorer From
the watcry floor to tho arched roof
above, the height varies from one hun
dred and fifty To two hundred feet. The
sweep of this arch is wcll-nigh perfect
in its symmetry; and rs one looks out
upon the surface of the lake from the
rcar, the effect Of the exterior picture,
framed rs II is in the rocky curve Of tho
portal. is striking and novel. The yell
low sandstone drips with moisture.
and Is fcstOOncd here and there with
close. growing MOSES and lichcns that
darkcn with olive greens and grays the
stony surface. The side entrance Ia
this wonderful cave is ilankcd by
rocky columns of an exaggerated
Egyptian type. They remind the
traveller of the gigantic monoliths of
Thcbcs and Karnak; or, to use more
commonplace figure, they are Titanic
hour-glasscs in shape, the lower nfcm-
bcrs being partially submerged in tho
crystal tide. At evening, when the
rays OF the setting sun light mp the SUR.
face of the lake, and the colors of the
sunset arc diil'uscd throughout the ut
mosphcrc, the reflections that play
along the inner walls Of tho cave, and
Gid with strange beauty the glis,cning
roof, make the place seem like bit of
fairy-land.
The Chapel so closely resembles the
ruin OF some ancient temple that IL Is
difficult TO resist the idea that this is
the work of mems hands, rather than
the result of centuries ol action by wind
and wave upon the friablc rock. Seen
from the beach, whcrc the outlines are
partially concealed by the thickcts. one
may fancy that here are the gloomy
portals OF some crumblinS Hindoo tenn
pie, or the outer columns Of the caves
of Elcphanta. The dome, which is
deeply concavc, is u solid mass of sand
stone one hundred and ninety feet long
and sixty feet wide. In the rear, and
on the eastern side. 1t is supported by
the cliil'. into which IL. the cave, has
been followed. and on the front and
west by huge columnar masses. rcscm-
bling In contour tho supports Of the
vaults of The Portal. a few Of these
masses stand out from the general
structure, so to speak, and one OF them,
west of The Chapel n few feet, is about
eighty feet in height from the surface OF
the water. The Pictured Rocks are
stained with the wash Of mineral oxides.
and the hucs prevailing are n grecnish.
blue. pale blue. vcrligris green, old
gold. pale yellow, and innumcrablc
shades of brown and gray.
The Cascade il bright sheet OF wa
ter. about thirty feet wide, which falls
from the ovcrlianging ellis sheer into
the lake. having height of one hun
drcd and scvenly-iivc feet. The pro-
lection of the clir rom the lip OF which
the cascade springs IL so great tlat y
space OF twenty-five or thirty'fcc re-
mains behind the fall and between 1t
and the rocky shore. II Is the custom
of guides tn invite those who do not
dread n Sigh, shower to paddle around
bctwiXt the cascade and the cliif-a
proceeding entirely safe. provided tho
slight bark of the advcniurcr is man.
aged with II steady hand. From the
Cascade numerous hcadlands, bright
with color and fantastic in shape. are
in sight, and the eye may lingcr long
and dclightedly on the unique panorama
that is spread out on either hand. and
is mirrored in the transparent wave that
holds the picturesque shores in its cni'
brace. cc.-Harper's Weekly.