THE GROTTO OF ANTIPAROS

Of ail Ihe sublerraneous caverns now known, the grolto of Antiparos is the most remarkable, as well for its extent, as for the beauty of its sparry incrustations. This celebrated cavern was fîrst explored by one Magni, an Ilalian traveller, about one hundred years ago, at Antiparos, an inconsiderable island of the Archipelago. « Having been informed », says he, « by the natives of Paros, that in the liltle island of Antiparos, \vhich lies about Iwo miles from the former, a gigantic statue was to be seen at the mouth of a cavern in that place, it was resolved that we (the French consul and himself) should pay il a visit. In pursuance of this resolution, after we had landed on the island, and walked about four miles through the midst of beautiful plains, and sloping woodiands, we at lenglh came to a little hill, on the sideof which yawned a mosthorrid cavern, that, by its gloom, al first struck us with terror, and almost repressed curiosity. Recovering the first surprise, however, we entered boldly, and had not proceeded above twenty paces, when the supposed statue of the giant presented itself to our view. We quickly perceived, thaï whal the ignorant natives had been terrifîed at as a giant, was nothing more than a sparry concrétion, formed by the water dropping from the roof of the cave, and by degrees hardening into a figure, which their fears had formed into a monsler. Inciled by this extraordinary appearance, we were induced to proceed still further, in quest of adventures in this subterranean abode. As we proceeded, new

wonders offered Ihemselves ; ihe spars, formed into trees and shrubs, presenled a kind of pelrified grovc ; some white, some green; and ail receding in due perspective. Tiiey slruck us wilh llie more amazemenl, as we knew liiem lo be mère productions of nature, who, hiilierlo in solitude, liad, in lier playful moments, dressed ihe scène, as if for her own amusement.

« We had as yet seen but a few of the wonders of the place ; and we were introduced only into Ihe portico of this amazing temple. In one corner oflliis lialf illuminated recess, Ihere appearedan opening of aboul ihree feet wide, wliich seemed to lead to a place totally dark, and which one of the natives assured us contained nolhing more llian a réservoir of water. Upon Ihis information, we made an experiment, by Ihrowing down some stones, which rumbling along the sides of the descent for some time, the sound seemed at lasl quashed in a bed of water. In order, however, to be more certain, we sent in a Levantine mariner, who, by the promise of a good reward, ventured wilh a flambeau in his hand, into Ihis narrow aperture. After continuing wilhin it for aboul a quarter of an hour, he relurned, bearing in his hand some beautiful pièces of white spar, which art could neilher equal nor imitate. Upon being informed by him that the place was full of thèse beautiful incrustations, I ventured in once more wilh him, aboul fifly paces, anxiously and cautiously descending, by a sleep and dangerous way. Finding, however, that we came lo a précipice which led into a spacious amphithéâtre (if I may so call it), still deeper than any other pari, we relurned, and being provided wilh a ladder, flambeau, and other ihings to expedile our descent, our whole conipany, man by man, ventured into Ihe same opening; and descending one after another, we at lasl saw ourselves al! togelher in Ihe most magnifîcent part of Ihe cavern. n