Page:A Companion and Useful Guide to the Beauties of Scotland.djvu/28

10 other; with gloom and silence reigning, and every one taking heed of his steps.

I happened to be the foremost in our procession, and at the end of the pass turned my head, and beheld coming a tribe, like witches and wizards, creeping and slipping after me. Do not imagine you will see the sides of the cavern sparkling like diamonds: there may be an abundance of shining spar, but the constant dripping of water down the rocks, covers every part of the cavern with a slime, which must deaden the lustre of the stones, were they of ever so shining a nature; but, notwithstanding there is no glitter in the cave, there is much to be admired, particularly wherever there are any smooth parts on the sides of the rocks; there you will perceive an astonishing variety of forms and patterns, created by the drizzling moisture; many of the patterns are not unlike the ramifications on the glass of windows, in a hard frost. If it be safe to enter the cave at Castleton in winter, when the dripping waters are congealed, and icicles hang in every direction throughout the cave, then, indeed, by torch-light, it must be a splendid sight. After you pass the large deep mouth of the cave, you go through a very small door and enter into darkness; you soon arrive at