Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1888-08-23
Remarkable Caves I'm Australia.

lrTom LnS SQnoy deralQ.l
An interesting report las been received by
the minister for mines from Mr.. w. S.
Leigh, the superintendent of the Jenolan
caves, with reference to the discovery of
new cave at the Fish river. Mr.. Leigh says
the new cave is zituated at the extreme end
of the Elder cave, the entrance being
reached from tkis point by an almost verti-
cal descent of about twenty feet over fallen
rocks. The cave consists of long, narrow
passage, having total length of about nine-
ty feet and an average width of four feet,
and may be divided into two parts as fol
lows: The first part. e., for a distance of
about fifty about from the entranoe--has the
appearance of an arched tunnel on winding
Inclined plane, the incline being continuous
and at an angle of about forty-fve. The as
cent is made over a crystallized rocky for
nation which forms the floor of the cave.
The sides are well studded with stalactites,
which gradually diminish in length as they
approach the center of the roof; stalagmites
are not SO numerous. To stand upright in
this part of the cave, except in one or two
places, is out of the question, as the height
to the center of the roof does not average
more than three feet, and at two points the
passage narrows to such an extent that only
SLuatl OP0uIukS are ic1b, Jusb large
to admit of an ordinary sized man forcing
his way through. The second part of the
cave is gained by making a straight drop of
about ten feet from the top of the incline or
end of first part. Here the visitor finds
himself in lofty passage about forty feet in
length and four feet in width; and in this
small area nature has formed one of the
prettiest caves of the whole group. It is
really a varied collection of the finest spsci-
mems found in the other principal caves. In
it are grouped grand stalactites and stalag-
mites of various lengths and shapes. Col
umns in clusters over ten feet in height, and
shawls, rivalling in beaury those found in
the Imperial cave, but of different shape,
in that they are not fat, but rather of a
gouge shaped section and pointed, are
grouped in great variety; in some cases sta
lactites form the center of shawls, giving
them rare appearance. Like those of the
music hall in the Lucas cave, the stalaekites
and shawls in this cave, when struck, give
out various notes, and from their great num-
ber different peals could be rung at the same
time and almost any note sounded. A bed
of crystals, having a wonderful combination,
similar to the Fairies Retreat in tho Imperi-
al is also found in a cavity on the left hand
side below the level of the floor. A fea-
ture of this cave is the remarkable white
ness and transparency of the different for
nations.
Mr.. Leigh also reports the discovery of a
small cave adjoining the one just de-
scribed, of much smaller dimensions, being
only about twenty-five feet long by twelve
feet wide, and two feet in height to the
center of the roof, which is arched. The
bed of the cave is of the same crystal rock
formation. All the formations are in min
iature compared with the other cave; ii
has innumerable small stalactites studding
the whole of the roof, all of which appear
very clear and fresh and in the course of
formation. Small columns are ranged all
round the sides, and there are few in the
center, but none of them being more than
one and half inches in diameter; num-
ber of miniature shawls, similar in appear
| anoe. to those of the Imperial caves, are
also found. On the left hand side, and
near the entrance, is a very pretty coral
| like bed, with numerous basins and other
| formations. Above this bed, and in the
| immediate vicinity, the stalactites assume a
very peculiar and altogether different form
| to the rest. Instead of being pointed each
| is tipped with a lime crystal, perfectly
| shaped and glittering like diamond: and
| this, being about twice the width of the sta
| lsctite, has the appearance of having been
stuck on the end of it. This cave can only
| be seen to advantage by one person at a time
and in recumbenb position, with the head
| only inside the cave.