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.)
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 _débris_ stained with iron, as well as
other indications of great soakage and percolation.
THE JEWEL CASKET.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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