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THE JENOLAN CAVES.

[Illustration: THE CORAL GROTTO. [_Frontispiece_]




  THE

  JENOLAN CAVES:

  AN

  EXCURSION

  IN

  AUSTRALIAN WONDERLAND.

  BY SAMUEL COOK.


  _ILLUSTRATED WITH TWENTY-FOUR PLATES AND MAP._


  EYRE & SPOTTISWOODE,

  Her Majesty's Printers:

  LONDON--GREAT NEW STREET, FLEET STREET, E.C.

  1889.

[Illustration: Coat of Arms]




PREFACE.


THE following historical and descriptive account of the Jenolan
(formerly called the Fish River) Caves was written for the _Sydney
Morning Herald_. By the kind permission of the proprietors of that
journal (Messrs. John Fairfax and Sons) and, at the request of numerous
correspondents, it is now republished. The author is conscious, however,
that neither tongue, nor pen, nor pictorial art can convey an adequate
idea of the magnificence and exquisite beauty of these caves. Words are
too poor to express the feelings of admiration and awe which are
experienced by those who wander through the marvellous subterranean
galleries embellished with myriads of graceful and fantastic forms of
purest white alternating with rich colour and delicate tints and shades.
Of all the caves in New South Wales those at Jenolan are the most
beautiful, and well-travelled men admit that they are unrivalled in any
other part of the world. As they are so little known this book may be
interesting, and serve to give some impression concerning geological
transformations and the slow processes of Nature in the production of
works at once grand, ornate, and unique.

The illustrations are from photographs by Messrs. Kerry and Jones of
Sydney, who have generously permitted the author to make selections from
their beautiful and extensive series of cave pictures.




CONTENTS.


   CHAPTER I.                                                       PAGE

   HOW THE CAVES WERE DISCOVERED                                      13


   CHAPTER II.

   THE APPROACH TO THE CAVES                                          17


   CHAPTER III.

   THE EXTERNAL FEATURES OF THE CAVES--THE GRAND ARCH                 20


   CHAPTER IV.

   THE DEVIL'S COACH HOUSE                                            33


   CHAPTER V.

   THE NIGHT CAVES                                                    39

   CHAPTER VI.

   THE NETTLE CAVE                                                    43


   CHAPTER VII.

   THE ARCH CAVE                                                      48


   CHAPTER VIII.

   THE CARLOTTA ARCH                                                  55


   CHAPTER IX.

   THE ELDER CAVE                                                     58


   CHAPTER X.

   THE LUCAS CAVE--THE MUSIC HALL--THE SHAWL CAVE                     65


   CHAPTER XI.

   THE EXHIBITION--THE BROKEN COLUMN--THE JEWEL CASKET--JUDGE
       WINDEYER'S COUCH--THE UNDERGROUND BRIDGE                       73


   CHAPTER XII.

   THE LURLINE CAVE--THE FOSSIL BONE CAVE--THE SNOWBALL CAVE          83


   CHAPTER XIII.

   THE BONE CAVES                                                     88


   CHAPTER XIV.

   THE IMPERIAL CAVE--THE WOOL SHED AND THE GRAVEL PITS--THE
       ARCHITECT'S STUDIO--THE BONE CAVE                              92


   CHAPTER XV.

   THE MARGHERITA CAVE                                                99


   CHAPTER XVI.

   THE HELENA CAVE                                                   102


   CHAPTER XVII.

   THE GROTTO CAVE                                                   108


   CHAPTER XVIII.

   THE LUCINDA CAVE                                                  113


   CHAPTER XIX.

   KATIE'S BOWER                                                     116


   CHAPTER XX.

   THE RIGHT-HAND BRANCH OF THE IMPERIAL CAVE--THE SUBTERRANEAN
       RIVER                                                         122


   CHAPTER XXI.

   THE FOSSIL BONE CAVE, THE SPARKLING ROCK, AND THE CRYSTAL
       ROCK                                                          133


   CHAPTER XXII.

   THE SHAWL CAVE                                                    136


   CHAPTER XXIII.

   LOT'S WIFE                                                        139


   CHAPTER XXIV.

   THE CRYSTAL CITIES--THE SHOW-ROOM AND THE GRAND STALACTITES       147


   CHAPTER XXV.

   THE FAIRIES' BOWER--THE SELINA CAVE--THE MYSTERY--NELLIE'S
       GROTTO                                                        154


   CHAPTER XXVI.

   THE VESTRY, THE JEWEL CASKET, THE BRIDAL VEIL, AND THE
       FLOWERING COLUMN                                              163


   CHAPTER XXVII.

   HOW CAVES ARE MADE--THE WORK OF AGES                              168


   CHAPTER XXVIII.

   THE GARDEN PALACE--THE STALAGMITE CAVE AND THE GEM OF
       THE WEST                                                      174


   CHAPTER XXIX.

   THE FAIRIES' RETREAT--THE QUEEN'S DIAMONDS                        181


   CHAPTER XXX.

   GENERAL IMPRESSIONS--CAVES UNEXPLORED                             184


   CHAPTER XXXI.

   CONCLUSION                                                        189




LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.


  THE CORAL GROTTO                                        _frontispiece_

  THE GRAND ARCH ENTRANCE                  _To face page_             20

  THE GRAND ARCH--LOOKING EAST                       "                25

  CAMP CREEK                                         "                29

  THE DEVIL'S COACH HOUSE                            "                33

  THE NORTHERN ENTRANCE TO THE DEVIL'S COACH HOUSE   "                37

  THE NETTLE CAVE                                    "                43

  THE ARCH CAVE                                      "                48

  THE CARLOTTA ARCH                                  "                55

  THE LUCAS CAVE                                     "                65

  THE SHAWL CAVE                                     "                71

  THE BROKEN COLUMN                                  "                74

  THE UNDERGROUND BRIDGE                             "                81

  THE ARCHITECT'S STUDIO                             "                97

  THE HELENA CAVE                                    "               102

  THE LUCINDA CAVE                                   "               113

  KATIE'S BOWER                                      "               116

  THE UNDERGROUND RIVER AND ITS REFLECTIONS          "               122

  THE CRYSTAL CITY                                   "               147

  THE SHOW-ROOM                                      "               150

  THE MYSTERY                                        "               156

  NELLIE'S GROTTO                                    "               161

  THE ALABASTER COLUMN                               "               174

  THE GEM OF THE WEST                                "               179


  MAP OF THE DISTRICT                          _At end of book._




THE JENOLAN CAVES.




CHAPTER I.

HOW THE CAVES WERE DISCOVERED.


The Jenolan Caves contain some of the most remarkable and beautiful
objects in Australian wonderland. They are formed in a limestone "<DW18>,"
surrounded by magnificent scenery