The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-25
4'HE CAVES OF AUSTRALIA
Wonders of Nature to Be Seen in
Them.
Fluted and Terrnced Columns Forty
Feet High in One-Human Heads,
With Features in Profile, in AM
Other-Delicntely Tinted Stn1ag-
mites and stalactites Everywhere.

A gentleman from Australia. visiting
Washington last week, gave Times re-
porter the following information concern
ing the wonderful caves of the island
continent:
The eastern portion of Australia is rich
in cave systems. mostly in limestone for
nations. several, such as the Jenolan.
Yarrangobilly, and Wombeyan. being Of
considerable extent, although only par
TALLY explored Most of the caves, which
are generally of a highly picturesque
character, are in charge Of caretakers ap-
pointed by the Colonial Government,
necessary precaution in view OF the van
dalistic tendencies of certain classes Of
visitors, prototypes of the barbarian tour
lists who disfigure with their initials the
stones Of the Egyptian Pyramids. or the
remains of the Athenian Acropolis. Other
caves are situated on private property,
but obstacles are rarely, if ever, placed in
the way of those DESTROYS of visiting them.
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 goTges,
and reached through wild and rugged
country Astounding with magnificent views.
One of the routes includes a mountain
ascent 1 500 feet with corresponding de-
scent on the other side. The main caves
are entered by openings in the face of the
cliff. The Key Cave is from sixty to
eighty feet wide and 200 feet long, with a
height of perhaps seventy feet. Its arched
roof is decorated with tinted stalactites.
The stalagmitic deposits are also tinged
with pale yellow. green, or pink, etc.
Near the southern entrance are four large
pillars, which retain their perpendicular
ity. although 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 en-
trance. three fine massive stalagmitic de-
posits are seen. which resemble human
heads with the features in profile. One is
like a queen wearing coronet- Twenty
or thirty feet below the Key Cave another
opening in the cliff face leads into the
Onslaw Cave, containing a series of mar
row passages. in some of which water is
knee deep. On the wall in one passage
are numerous '-shawls.''
About thirty 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 squeeze through. Shortly after enter
ing the cave a ledge is seen. on which are
some attractive pillars. Further on fine
opaque white stalactitic group hangs in the
centre Of the passage. In an opening to
the left is a crystalline column and over
hanging canopy. semi-circle Of pillars
and stalactites is next iuet with. after
which King Solomon's Temple is entered.
This chamber contains five or six large flut-
ed and terraced columns nearly forty feet
high. One Of them is surmounted by
crystalline amber-tinted formation. Fur
Their on is most beautiful little grotto. in
which the translucent fragile stalactites are
viewed through tinted and pure white and
coraline stalactites and pillars.
After crawling and squeezing through a
narrow passage, the Pride OF the Valley
is reached This chamber is about twenty
feet long ten feet wide, and from five to
eight feet high. 1t contains prOfusion Of
white translucent stalactites. Two col
umns near its entrance are particularly
fine Returning side chamber is found
to contain some attractive groups OF staiac-
tiles, and few delicate fern-like grOwths.
Then a 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
slipping floor. which they cover for
distance Of perhaps eighty feet by width
of from eight to ten feet. They consist
of a series of crystalline basins. en-
closed within white frilled and delicate
rims, some Of which are foot in height