Omaha daily bee., 1889-04-14
IN AN AFRICAN LABYRINTH.
A Counterpart of the Residence OF
Rider Haggard's "She."
The Unpleasant Adventure OF a Party
ofbadies and Gentlemen who
Undertook to Explore
Gloomy Cavern.
These Fish Need No Eyes.

Especial Correspondence OF THE BEE. |
Tho city Of Pretoria, capital Of the
Transvaal, is located in. most beauti-
full spot. 1t stands in valley between
two ranges of mountains clothed with
rich, dark verdure all the year round.
Vines loaded with ripening grapes,
monthly roses and pomegranates form
| ing II blaze of bloom amidst the flood of
flood of sunshine sltimmering like golden
water. Under these mountain ranges
are vast caverns, only few of which
nave been entered, and these only partly
| explored. These caves are the origiua |
| Haggards' caves of the Amahaaga, in
| which the wonderful "She" dwelt and
| ruled. Right under this mountain and
| through these dark caverns runs u clear,
| sparkling river of water. The source
| OF this river, which furnishes the water
| supply fer the city, has never been dis
covered. curious fact is that its waters
are highest during the dry season. This
| points to the theory that it is fed by
rain, and that these rains do not reach
| the river till about four to
five months after they fall.
| This river is Inhabited by fish
| and a strange kind of crabs and lob.
sters, all of which have no eyes, This
| species of aquatic animals having been
bred in and inhabited this dark stygjian
stream for thousands of years, have
! never had any use for eyes, and so,
after many gen eratlons, thatorgan had
| entirely disappeared from their struc-
ture Som n fripnls G pf nina two lad lina
and three gentlemen, went on an OK
| ploring expedition through this cavern,
got lost in its maze, and were threU
| days before they found their way back
| to the outer world. Mr.. Saunders, of
| the American consulate at Cape Town,
| thus relates their experience while in
| the bowels of the earth:
"Mr. j. II. Levoy, of the Northern
| Pacific railway of the United States of
| America, Mr.. John Sidney and two
| ladies, Miss Webster and Miss Gootch
| and myself started to explore the Foun-
tain cave. Armed with two lamps and
provisions enough for two meals. we
started. We got through the entrance
| which is very narrow, with difficulty.
| Going few yards we found it neces-
sary to light the lamps. Pro
ceeding we found on each
side OF the , main main, passage numerous enn
SlucWdNS anu hSNu
| out of the solid rock. All around there
were evidences of the caves being in
| habited by swarms of bats which con-
| stantly kept flying in our faces. Pur-
| suing our way for a considerable time,
we came to n spot where the roof of the
concern, hitherto lofty, slanted down,
gradually becoming lower and lower
until we were unable to walk erect
| Finally we came to where the floor was
on an inclined plane and got more head,
room. We then descended steep hill
at the foot of which was dead wall
| which completely barred further pro-
gress in that direction.
''On the right hand a narrow passage
presented itself just wide enough to ad-
nit of our walking Indian file. The air
hitherto cool and bracing became damp
and a cold clammy dew settled on our
faces. To the sides of the passage
clung pale Shiny snale-like substance
which to the touch, produced shivery
ourselves we'll out Of the undertaking.
However, being in, there was nothing
for it but to go on. We walked
up this passage, a distance
II should Judge, of 800 yards,
when we arrived at an, octagonal
court, from which ran eight different
passages, the four main ones being
about width of fifty feet, and the four
narrow ones about four feet each. Under
our feet could be heard sound as of
the running of river and the violent
breaking of water upon rocks. We
could perceive no mode OF descent, and
the ground under our feet seemed solid.
Being weary, and the ladies some
what faint, we resolved to go back, al
together disappointed with the result
OF our exploration. However, before
starting again we refreshed ourselves
with the victuals we mad brought, and,
fortified by few draughts of cape
sherry, felt our spirits rise, and, curios-
Ity as to the cause of the sound under
our feet getting the better OF our judg-
ment, we began searching for way to
descend, and finally found a place where
there were stone steps at irregular in
tervals. Sidney and / descended, leav-
ing Leroy and the ladies above. We
followed these steps for about fifty
feet. The descent was very diff
fcult. The light OF the lantern
grew, feeble. However, we arrived on
sound OF the water had by this time in
creased to that OF roaring torrent, and
on our left we saw the black, inky stream
rushing past. We sounded and found
the river very deep and cold. Passing
along the banks the air became heavier
still, and the lamp which had been burn
ing more freebly went out altogethery
Breathing became very difficult, owing
to the absence OF oxygen. In this dread
full place and in total darkness we were
stumbling about trying to find the steps,
by which to return, for hours, until be-
coming quite weary, we sat down and
fell into torpid, heavy sleep. How
long We remained in this state do not
know. On awakening, with a great
effort we aroused ourselves, and finally
hit ON passage which we followed. Az
we went the noise OF the waters became
less audible, and finally We lost tha
sound altogether. Still there was NO
ray OF light; nothing but thick dark
ness and q noisome, pestilential air.
We CROPPED about for hours from one
passage to another amidst a silence
deep and dreadful. The sound OF our
voices appeared unnaturally loud, and
echOing through the vaults, gave the
impression that the place was haunted
by countless demons who were mocking
our distress. Quite exhausted by ex-
ertiOn, anxiety and want of food, we
sank down in despair, giving ourselves
up for lost. After q time howevar wa