The Jenolan Caves: An Excursion in Australian Wonderland — John Shaqi
The Jenolan Caves: An Excursion in Australian WonderlandCook, Samuel
History
The Jenolan Caves: An Excursion in Australian Wonderland
Cook, Samuel
Australia -- Description and travel; Caves; Jenolan Caves (N.S.W.)
Leaving the Grand Archway by the eastern end, the excursionist descends,
through a rocky defile interlaced with foliage, into a dry, stony creek,
about which are growing some very rare ferns, as well as some which are
common, but nevertheless beautiful, and also some handsome native
creeping plants. From this point may be seen the pinnacle which rises
over the archway to an altitude of about 500 feet. About 50 yards down
this dry creek, and about 20 yards below the junction of the roads from
the Grand Archway to the Devil's Coach House, is "The Rising of the
Water." Here among the rocks in the bed of the creek the water bursts
out of the ground like a sparkling fountain of considerable volume, and
"gleams and glides" along a romantic dell "with many a silvery
waterbreak." And if it does not "steal by lawns and grassy plots," or
yet by "hazel covers," or "move the sweet forget-me-nots that grow for
happy lovers," it does here and there "loiter round its cresses." Its
banks are so steep that its course cannot be easily followed for any
great distance, but, without much difficulty, it may be traced until it
flows over a rocky ledge into a deep pool, where there is a wire ladder
for the convenience of bathers. Thence it chatters on to the River Cox,
whence it enters the Warragamba, which joins the Nepean a few miles
above Penrith, and about 50 miles below the Pheasant's Nest. It does
not, therefore, enter into the Sydney water supply, but passes through
the Hawkesbury to the ocean.
[Illustration: THE DEVIL'S COACH HOUSE.]
CHAPTER IV.
THE DEVIL'S COACH HOUSE.
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