The National tribune., 1900-11-29
AUSTRALIAN CLEVELAND.
Immense Underground Passages of Marvel
Gus Beauty.

The eastern portion of Australia is ricl
| IN cave systems, mostly in limestone for
nations, several such as the .Ienolan
IarrangObilly, and Wombeyan, being OF
considerable extent. although only partial
| iy explored. Most of the caves, which
are generally of n highly picturesque char
acter, are in charge of caretakers appoint
ed by the Colonial Government, q neccs
sary precaUtion in view Of the vandalistiC
| tendencies of certain classes of visitors
| Among the more recent discoveries are
those OF the Colong Caves, near Burrago
| rang. They are somewhat numerous, and
| occur in an immense bed of limestone,
! broken by more or less precipitous gorges
and reached through wild and rugged
| country Astounding with magnificent views
| One of the routes includes n mountain
| ascent of 1,500 feet, with a corresponding
descent on the other side. The main caves
| are entered by openings in the face of the
cliff.
The Key Cave is from 60 to so feet
| wide and 200 feet long, with a hight of
perhaps 20 feet. Its arched roof is deco
rated with tinted stalactites. The stalag-
mite deposits are also tinged with pale
yellow, green, or pink, etc. Near the
southern entrance are four large pillars,
which retain their perpendicularity, al
though they have sunk with the floor, and
are now separated from the roof, which
they once Joined, by two or three feet.
Looking back from the north entrance
three fine, massive Stalagmitic deposits
are seen, which resemble human heads
with the features in profile.
One is like queen wearing n corOnet.
Twenty or so feet below the Key Cave
another opening in the cliff face leads into
the Onslow Cave, containing n series of
narrow passages, in some of which water
is kneedcep. On the wall in one passage
are numerous "shawls.'
About 80 feet above the level of the
southern entrance to the Key Cave is the
entrance to Lannigan's Cave, probably
600 feet in length, and containing many
branch passages. Some of the passages
are wide and lofty, others are barely large
enough to queeZe through. Shortly after
entering the cave a ledge is seen, on which
are some attractive pillars. Further on a
fine, opaque-white staiactitic group hangs
in the center of the passage. In an open
ing to the leftris crystalline column and
oyerhanSing canopy. A semi-circle of pill
lars and stalactites is next met with, after
which King Solomon'S Temple is entered.
This chamber, contains five or six large.
luted and terraced columns nearly 40 feet
high. One of them is surfnounted by q
crystalline amber-tinted formation. Fur
Their on is most beautiful little grotto.
in which the. TRANSLUCENT, fragile stalac-
tites are viewed through tinted and pure
white and coralline stalactites and pillars.
After crawling and squeezing through
narrow passage, the pride of the Val
ley is reached. This chamber is about 90
feet long. 10 feet wide, and from five to
eight feet high. 1t contains profusion Of
white, translucent stalactites. Two col
umns near its entrahce are particularly
fine. Returning, . Side chamber is found
to contain some attractive groups of stall
actites. and a few delicate, fern-like
growths Then q large chamber is entered
whose floor is mostly formed of broken
rocks which have fallen from the roof and
sides Here and there in it are beautiful
groups of stalactites-
A descent from this chamber leads TO
the Terraces, which may, however, be
more easily reached by an opening from
the passage first traversed. The Terraces
occur on sioping floor, which they cover
for distance of perhaps so feet by n
width of from eight to 10 feet. They CON
sist of a series of crystalline basins, in
closed within white frilied and delicate
rims, some of which are a foot in hight.
A beautiful group of stalactites and pill
lars serve to enhance the beauty of the
From the foot of the terraces
the rims of the basins have the appear
ance of n series of marble steps. Taken
as a whole, the formation is surprisingly
beautiful.
The other caves, so far as they have
been explored, are less interesting. In |
the Kowmung River, near at hand, good
fishing is to be had, game is abundant and
Wonga pigeons are plentiful; so that the |
locality possesses unusual attractions for
the sportsman. The country is marked |
by steep and rugged ranges and gorges |
with precipitOus banks. affording abund- |
ant material for the artist or the student |
of natural history, there being ample IA |
cilitieS for camping out, If so desired.