accomplished without difficulty in a few minutes; and no sooner did
it flare up than we were struck dumb with the wonderful objects
that were revealed to our gaze. The roof of the cavern just above
us seemed to be about ten feet high, but grew higher as it receded
into the distance, until it was lost in darkness. It seemed to be
made of coral, and was supported by massive columns of the same
material. Immense icicles (as they appeared to us) hung from it in
various places. These, however, were formed, not of ice, but of a
species of limestone, which seemed to flow in a liquid form towards
the point of each, where it became solid. A good many drops fell,
however, to the rock below, and these formed little cones, which
rose to meet the points above. Some of them had already met, and
thus we saw how the pillars were formed, which at first seemed to
us as if they had been placed there by some human architect to
support the roof. As we advanced farther in, we saw that the floor
was composed of the same material as the pillars; and it presented
the curious appearance of ripples, such as are formed on water when
gently ruffled by the wind. There were several openings on either
hand in the walls, that seemed to lead into other caverns; but
these we did not explore at this time. We also observed that the
ceiling was curiously marked in many places, as if it were the
fret-work of a noble cathedral; and the walls, as well as the roof,
sparkled in the light of our torch, and threw back gleams and
flashes, as if they were covered with precious stones. Although we
proceeded far into this cavern, we did not come to the end of it;
and we were obliged to return more speedily than we would otherwise
have done, as our torch was nearly expended. We did not observe
any openings in the roof, or any indications of places whereby
light might enter; but near the entrance to the cavern stood an
immense mass of pure white coral rock, which caught and threw back