THE EXHIBITION.
At the western end of the Shawl Cave, and on its southern wall, is a
remarkable formation denominated "The Butcher's Shop." Experts in the
preparation of animal food have discovered in this strong resemblances
to sides of beef, joints, and "small goods" covered with a reticulum
like the netted membrane sometimes thrown over meat exposed for sale.
One would hardly expect to find anything aesthetic about such a display.
As a realistic production, however, it will bear favourable comparison
with some so-called works of art which show how much humour a jocular
sculptor can cut into a piece of cold stone. In its bearing upon
gastronomy, exception might be taken to one or two of the joints, which
suggest veal that has been "spouted," and an excess of adipose matter;
but upon the whole the "shop" may be regarded as a not unpleasing
representation of a chamber filled with chilled meat.
Leaving the unromantic stall and ascending seven steps under a roof
about 90 feet high, the cave-walker ambulates towards the Exhibition,
which is approached by 12 wooden steps, leaving to the right a beautiful
formation like a frozen waterfall of from 20 to 25 feet. These steps
have pendant from them fungi of the most delicate kind, some resembling
eider-down, hanging in flossy masses from underneath the cross pieces.
This fungoid growth affords evidence of dampness destructive to the
timber, which ought to be replaced by more durable material. It is
satisfactory to know that specifications have been prepared and tenders
forwarded to the Department for this work. It will be more satisfactory
to learn that prompt action has been taken in regard to them, and that
they have not been simply docketed and smothered in some obscure
pigeon-hole.
The road to The Exhibition is rather rough, there being large masses of
angular rocks on either side, and the pathway itself is somewhat rugged.
The entrance to the Bride's Cave is to be seen down a rocky declivity of
about 30 feet. The gallery leading to this chamber is only about 12
inches by 18 inches. The cave itself is about six feet high, and hung
around with drapery of alabaster. The ceiling is of coral formation, and
the floor pure white. Farther on to the left is another chamber, the
entrance to which is pretty, but difficult of access. It is from 6
inches to 10 feet high. There is beautiful formation in one part from
the ceiling to the floor. Some of it is like straws, as clear as glass,
and a portion of the floor sparkles as though it were set with diamonds.
The Exhibition is of large proportions, being about 250 feet each way,
but its height ranges only from 5 to 20 feet. Its floor is reached by
nine steps. From the centre of the Exhibition the entrance to the
Bride's Chamber is on the right. To the left is a broken column, which
at one time was sound from the floor to the roof, but which has been
fractured apparently by the sinking of the rock on which the stalagmitic
portion rests. The separation is slight, and there is a slight departure
from the right line.
[Illustration: THE BROKEN COLUMN.]
THE BROKEN COLUMN.
To the eastward are several interesting stalactites. One represents a
black fellow's "nulla-nulla," another a lady and child, another the palm
of a hand blackened by candle smoke. On the south side is a spacious
platform like the stage of a theatre--the front, about 40 feet wide, is
supported by two columns. The height is about 18 feet, and across the
top is a curtain of formation representing drapery gracefully arranged,
with a fringe of little sparkling stalactites. On each side of this is a
smaller entrance similarly adorned and as exquisitely beautiful. The
floor of the stage is about 15 feet deep, and the curved ceiling about
40 feet from the drop curtain to the floor. This is as it appears at a
distance. On nearer approach it is perceived that the pillars are
uneven, and marked with formations of various kinds. That which seemed
like a stage becomes an irregular cavern, with immense rocks lying about
in great disorder. When the Exhibition is illuminated by the magnesium
light, some beautiful red and white stalactites are disclosed,
glittering like dewdrops in the sunlight, and also some exceedingly
pretty stalagmites. This chamber was called "The Exhibition" on account
of the variety of its specimens. It contains stalactites and
stalagmites, white and coloured--variegated shawls--sombre marble and
sparkling rocks, clusters of formation, and elephantine masses of
carbonate of lime in shapes which prove how much more subtle than
professors of art is Nature herself. At the south end a cave slopes
down, and there are boulders and _debris_ stained with iron, as well as
other indications of great soakage and percolation.
THE JEWEL CASKET.
Eastward, about 40 feet, is the "Jewel Casket." On the way to it are
openings to numerous unexplored caves. Affixed to an immense block of
limestone are some 30 or 40 shawl-pattern formations of various sizes,
which give forth musical sounds when struck with a hard substance, and
which, with a little practice, could be played upon like a mammoth
harmonicon. _En route_ from the Exhibition to the Jewel Casket, although
the passage has not been so dry for twenty years, the rocks are covered
with moisture, and the lime can be scraped off like soft soap. From the
Exhibition there is a descent eastward of about 100 feet along the
gallery, which is somewhat narrow, but the roof of which is covered with
pretty stalactites. Near the entrance to the Casket is a remarkable
reticulated rock. The descent is by 23 steps east, and then proceeding
north about five yards the Jewel Casket is reached.
The Jewel Casket is at the end of a very remarkable cave. Its ceiling is
marvellously beautiful. The walls and ridges on each side sparkle like
gems of the first water. Some of the rocks are covered with virgin
white, and some are delicately coloured. The entrance to the Casket
itself is very small, being only about 15 inches by 8. Its upper portion
is of glistening rich brown, and slopes in varied graceful folds down to
the bed rock. When the magnesium light reveals the splendour of the
interior it is seen that the Casket stretches away to a considerable
distance; the floor is covered with white and amber brilliants and snowy
coruscating flakes of dazzling purity. Here are clusters of cave
diamonds, opals, and pearls, with delicate fawn-coloured jewels
scattered about promiscuously. Rich and rare are the gems this Casket
contains, and exclamations of delight are evoked when their charms burst
upon the view like a vision of fairyland. Neither tongue nor pen, nor
photographic art nor pencil-sketch, can ever do full justice to this
natural treasury of beautiful things.
JUDGE WINDEYER'S COUCH.
Leaving the Jewel Casket, the visitor proceeds in a northward direction
along a passage, from the Exhibition to "The Hall to the Bridge." There
is an ascent of 13 steps west, and then the way to the Hall is under a
low archway, through which it is necessary to proceed on hands and
knees. Through this archway is a little cavern, something like the Jewel
Casket, with a floor of diamond drift and delicate coral. At the top of
the steps the Hall runs north-west. Then the way lies down a gradual
slope of rough rocks to the head of 18 steps, with a wire rope on the
right hand side. At the top of the steps near to the Jewel Casket and in
the Hall to the Bridge is a piece of formation like an upholstered sofa,
which has been named "Judge Windeyer's Couch," because it is said that
the learned Judge sat on it when he visited the caves. Its surface is of
a rich reddish brown, and may have suggested the celebrated woolsack
which, in the days of "good Queen Bess," was introduced as the Lord
Chancellor's seat in commemoration of the Act to prevent the exportation
of wool which was at that time as important an element in England's
prosperity as it is at present to the well-being of Australia. In the
Hall beautiful formation is seen. A large rock, with shawl-pattern
appendages and other ornamentation, is specially attractive. Another
represents a miniature Niagara, done in stone. The features are varied
by splendid stalactites, from pure white to rich brown. The formation on
the wall is like frozen fountains. The bottom consists of huge rocks,
angular and rugged, with immense flags of limestone. About 10 yards from
the Bridge is "Touch-me-not" corner, with a grotto quite out of reach,
but of the interior of which, when the light is flashed into it, a
splendid view can be obtained. The stalactites are perfectly shaped and
beautifully pure. Some of them are as white as snow, some are opaline,
and others are tinged with mineral colours. The floor has many
stalagmites and sparkling formations like a jewelled carpet, which falls
from the entrance a little distance down the wall in graceful brown
folds fringed with russet stalactites. Here the Hall is very spacious,
being about 120 feet across, and the roof rises from 10 to 50 feet. It
has on it some of the most beautiful stalactites in the caves, many of
them being of unsullied white. To the left, high up on the side of the
Hall, is a piece of pure lime formation like a lace shawl, the apparent
delicate network of which is an object of special interest, if not of
envy, to the fair sex.
[Illustration: THE UNDERGROUND BRIDGE.]
THE UNDERGROUND BRIDGE.
The Underground Bridge is not a brilliant achievement in engineering,
but seems to be well constructed and safe, which is an important
consideration; for, although it is so many hundred feet below the summit
of the mountain, and yet down so low as to be on the same level as the
foundations of the Cave House in the adjacent valley, it spans a black
yawning gulf, at the extremity of which, 50 feet still farther down,
is a clear pool of water 20 feet deep! The Bridge is about 42 feet
long. It has wire girders and uprights, with stanchions and handrails,
and a wooden deck, which, by-the-bye, needs some repair, for several of
the planks are broken. The passage is made increasingly secure by
galvanised wire netting stretched along the lower part of the Bridge on
both sides. The rocks which form the boundary of the immense chasm
spanned by the Bridge are of enormous size, and the scene from this
point is remarkable for sublimity rather than for what is commonly
called beauty. Near the roof is an immense recess, filled with huge
stalactites and mammoth pieces of formation, which have floated over the
bottom and formed graceful ornamentation for the cavern below. And so
the process is repeated from the top of the immense chamber, near the
roof, down to the rugged walls immediately round the Bridge. Even on the
rocks which surround the abyss similar wondrous decorations are lavishly
bestowed. The clear-headed and sure-footed guide descends from one
jutting rock to another and yet another, until he approaches a row of
remarkable stalactites which can be just discerned through the gloom.
This group is called "The Piano," because of the resonant qualities of
its separate parts. Each stalactite gives out a note. The notes vary in
quality and pitch, but most of them are imperfect. As stalactites they
are very fine, but as melodious instruments they are frauds. They refuse
to harmonise, and their music is about as entrancing as that of a
discordant "upright grand," mounted on one leg and played with a handle.