t four or
five miles from the place where we lay. Being assured that they
were highly deserving of notice, we determined to visit them; and
setting off one evening for that purpose, we reached the spot
which had been pointed out to us a little before dark. We
fastened the boat to the stump of a tree, and were proceeding
towards the caves, when a fine manly voice, singing one of the
Irish melodies, attracted our attention. Being rather curious to
discover who, in this extramundane place, had learnt to sing with
so much taste, we followed the direction of the sound, till we
came upon a party sitting under the shade of a tent, and, like
ourselves, enjoying the cool of the evening; on perceiving us,
some of them came forward, and the satisfaction was mutual when
we recognised one another as old acquaintances. They urged us to
relinquish our design, and to partake of their good cheer, with
which, as the hour was late, we had small reluctance in
complying; and it was agreed, that instead of going on without
proper guides, and at so unseasonable a time, we should breakfast
together at the same spot in the morning, and proceed in a body
to examine the caverns. Here, therefore, we remained till the
moon had risen, when we returned to our boat, and sailed back to
the ship.

Next morning everything was prepared for the expedition, but a
heavy squall coming on, prevented us from setting out as early as
we had intended; as soon, however, as this blew over, we took to
our boat, and reached the place of rendezvous in time to share
the remains of a good breakfast which our friends had prepared
for themselves and us. When our meal was finished, we supplied
ourselves with torches from some dry branches of the
calabash-tree, and, headed by a guide, moved towards the mouth of
the nearest and largest of the two caves. We descended into this
by a ladder of sixteen steps, and arrived upon a broad ledge of
rock, where we halted for a few minutes to light the torches, and
accustom our vision to the gloom; when, both of these ends being
attained, we advanced a few paces into the cave, and a sight of
the most indescribable sublimity burst upon us. The appearance
was that of a huge Gothic cathedral, having its roof supported
upon pillars of spar, moulded into the most regular shapes, and
fluted and carved after the most exact models of architecture.
The roof itself was indeed too lofty to be discerned, nor could
the eye penetrate to an