Year: 1879

among them like surpentine walks made
for the giants Of ancient times. The
whole is varied by beautiful streams
and babbling brooks and majestic rivers,
while fountains break out from the hills
to cool the air and refresh the traveller.
So much is there to admire, that before
he is aware of it, the tourist finds him
self at the little village of Estillville,
nestled in the lovely bosom of the 'Hol-
ston Mountains, thirty miles from Bris-
tol. There are but few places that can
boast of 80 beautiful situation, and as
we look upon the little rills, flowing
from fountains in the mountains, and
meeting in the valley, we may well say
of it, in the words of the great poet of
the Emerald Isle:


"There Is not in this wide world vally so sweet.
As the vale In whose bosom these bright waters


meet" .a


If the traveller pleases he may rest
here for the night. The kind citizens
will administer to his wants and take
good care Of him; while the breezes
that come down from the mountain tops
will bring refreshment in their hands
health in their grateful touch.


From this point 1t is thirteen or four
teen miles to the tunnel, through seem
cry still more striking and beautiful
After crossing the Clinch river the
tourist comes TO Stock Creek, and fol-
lowing its winding course through trees
and steep precipices on each side he is
brought at last in front Of huge rock,
several hundred feet in perpendicular
height, the backbone of the mountain,
through which nature has bored the
tunnel. The bottom of the tunnel is the
bed of a stream which is almost dry in
the summer and fall, and whose water
suggests the agent which nature has
used In the execution of the work. The
entrance of the tunnel is itslargest part,
being about 200 feet from side to side,
and about 100 feet high. The ceiling
lowers as you advance until II comes
within 30 or 40 feet of the floor. After
going forward for three or four hundred
feet the tunnel makes turn to the left,
and then continues forward again for
three or four hundred feet more. The
ceiling also rises again until 1t reaches
the height Of probably $50 feet. II ter
inmates in great rotunda, rather oval
in shape, being about eight or nine hun
dred feet In Its widest diameter and five
or six hundred in the smaller, and open
on one side through which the stream
passes to the outer world.


The rotmda Is perhaps the most won-
derful part Of this marvellous work Of
nature. Its walls are Of solid rock on
all sides, and approach each other as
they go up, making you feel that If they
were higher, they would form COM
plete dome. AS 1t is, they are some five
or six hundred feet high, open at the
top, so that the light of heaven can come
down. AS you stand within It you feel
as IL you were in u great temple,
wrought out by nature for the worship
of natures God; and no doubt the wa
tcrs, rs they have passed through 1t In
the past ages have mingled their mur-
muring with the voices Of the winds
that have rolled through the narrow
opening at the side and have hymned
the prayer of him that made them all,


Did time permit we might speak of
the many objects of interest which are
to be found In both the tunnel and ro-
tunda; of the vast rocks which form n
rude and uneven pavement on each side
of the stream; of an opening followed
out on one side of the rotunda, which
descends many feet towards Its base; of
the rock beaten up into small pieces, as
by some huge engine and piled 'ip many
feet on one side Of the tunnel as though
nature designed to give to the people n
hint rs TO what was needed for their
roads. But time forbids to speak Of
these and other things equally curious,
which invite the attention and inyesti-
cation of the man or woman of science.


About half % mile from the tunnel Is n
large cave with many chambers, one of
which Is used rs ball room by the pco-
pie Of surrounding country. OF this
cave with its pure and cold air, with Its
pillows and stAlactltfies of crystal, we
cannot now speak OF itself II Ia well
worthy visit. There are also other
objects of interest In the nelghborhood.
II would require more than one day TO
visit and examine them and more than
one letter In u newspaper to describe
them.


We conclude with the single additions
al remark that every one that has any
love Of beautiful scenery, or any appre-
citation OF the wonderful works Of ma
turc, would do we'll 10 visit the Natural
Tunnel and its surroundings IN Scott
county, Virginia. TouRIsT.


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