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 roof opening
into the cave is adorned with splendid stalactites, and among these is a
beautiful white "shawl." The floor is composed partly of handsome
basins, on the bottom and sides of which is elegant crystallization. In
one corner of the roof some rich colouring sets off pure snowflakes done
in lime. Among the stalactites and stalagmites are some exceedingly
grotesque figures. There is also a little tablet, "Selina Cave, Feb. 7,
1881."
[Illustration: THE MYSTERY.]
THE MYSTERY.
From the "Selina Cave" to "The Mystery" is about 25 yards north. In the
gallery leading to this wondrous cavern may be noticed a number of small
testaceous shells resembling those of cockles, embedded in the walls.
The cave itself is rightly named, because of the wonder it excites by
its sublimity. The spectator is first fascinated by its magnificence,
and then puzzled to account for the many peculiarities and
eccentricities of form which present themselves. It is an enigma. Some
of the conformations appear more like the expression of vagrant fancies
than the result of inanimate natural forces. Florid stalactites and
floriferous rocks have become almost commonplace objects, and the
visitor by this time is nearly satiated with limestone beauty; but here
he finds new marvels written in mystic characters, which can be
deciphered only by long and patient study. The cavern is about 12 feet
high, from 8 to 20 feet wide, and about 20 yards in length. It consists
of two parts. On one side is an immense mass of delicate white and rich
cream-coloured formation, with numerous giant stalactites, which in
purity rival virgin snow. Smaller stalactites in great profusion, are of
the most perfect whiteness. But in the midst of the masses of formation
are most wonderfully-contorted tubes and threads and thousands of fine
lines, some like hairs and others like spun glass. There is filagree
work of the most _recherché_ kind. Some of the threads are as fine as
the filaments of a spider's web, but twisted and turned in a more subtle
manner. Some of the stalactites are decorated in the same mysterious
way, their hirsute covering being partly pellucid and partly opaque. On
the other side of the cave is a similar wonder, which still further
illustrates the mysterious operations of nature, and shows with what
affluence she can adorn, and how fertile are her resources.
[Illustration: NELLIE'S GROTTO.]
NELLIE'S GROTTO.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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