souls of their ancestors sojourn in the deep recesses of the cavern. "Man," say they, "should avoid places which are enlightened neither by the Sun nor by the Moon." To go and join the guacharoes, is to rejoin their fathers, is to die. The magicians and the poisoners perform their nocturnal tricks at the entrance of the cavern, to conjure the chief of the evil spirits.

At the point where the river forms the subterraneous cascade, a hill covered with vegetation, which is opposite the opening of the grotto, presents itself in a very picturesque manner. It appears at the extremity of a straight passage, 240 toises in length. The stalactites, which descend from the vault, and which resemble columns suspended in the air, display themselves on a back-ground of verdure. The opening of the cavern appeared singularly contracted, when we saw it about the middle of the day, illumined by the vivid light reflected at once from the sky, the plants, and the rocks. The distant light of day formed somewhat of magical contrast with the darkness that surrounded us in those vast caverns. We climbed, not without some difficulty, the small hill, whence the subterraneous rivulet descends. We saw that the grotto was perceptibly contracted, retaining only forty feet in its height; and that it continued stretching to the northeast, without deviating from its primitive direction, which is parallel to that of the great valley of Caripe.

The missionaries, with all their authority, could not prevail on the Indians to penetrate farther into the cavern. As the vault grew lower, the cries of the guacharoes became more shrill. We were obliged to yield to the pusillanimity of our guides, and trace back our steps. We followed the course of the torrent to go out of the cavern. Before our eyes were dazzled with the light of day, we saw without the grotto, the water of the river sparkling amid the foilage of the trees that concealed it. It was like a picture placed in the distance, and to which the mouth of the cavern served as a frame. Having at length reached the entrance, and seated ourselves on the bank of the rivulet, we rested after our fatigues. We were glad to be beyond the hoarse cries of the birds, and to leave a place where darkness does not offer even the charms of silence and tranquility.

GRAND STAFFA CAVERN;

OR, FINGAL'S CAVE.

[See Plates, No. 26, 27.]

By far the best description of this very extraordinary feature of the most wonderful island of the Hebrides, the whole of which constitutes as singular and romantic a spot as is any where to be found, has been given by Sir Joseph Banks, from whose more detailed account we extract the following particulars.

STAFFA, about seven miles N. N. E. of Jona, and equi-distant westward from the shores of Mull, about one mile in length, and half a mile in breadth, is noted for the basaltic pillars which support the major part of the island, and for the magnificent spectacle afforded by the Cave of Fingal, one of the most splendid works of nature.

Notwithstanding the contiguity of this island to Mull and Jona, and the numerous vessels which navigate these seas, this wonderful Island was unknown to the world in general, and even to most of the neighbouring islanders, until near the close of the last century, when Sir Joseph, then on his voyage to Iceland, in consequence of information received in the sound of Jona from some gentlemen. of Mull, was induced to sail thither. It is, indeed, slightly mentioned by Buchanan; but assuredly was not equally dead to fame at the time the Norwegians had sway in these parts; for from them it derives its name of Staffa.

The basaltic pillars stand in natural colonnades, mostly above fifty feet high, in the south-western part, upon a firm basis of solid unshapen rock; above these, the stratum, which reaches to the soil of the island, varies in thickness, in proportion to the distribution of the surface into hill and valley. The pillars are of three, four, and more sides; but the number of those with five and six exceeds that of the others; one of seven sides, measured by Sir Joseph, was four feet five inches in diameter.

On the west side of Staffa is a small bay, the spot where boats usually land. In this neighbourhood occurs the first

group of pillars; they are small, and instead of being placed upright, are recumbent on their sides, and form a segment of a circle. Further on is a small cave, above which pillars again are seen, of somewhat larger dimensions, which incline in all directions; in one place in particular, a small mass of them much resembles the ribs of a ship. Beyond the cave is the first continued range of pillars, larger than the former, and opposite to them is a small island called Bhuachaile, (pronounced Boo sha-'lay,) or the Herdsman's Isle, separated from the main by a channel not many fathoms wide. The whole of this islet is composed of pillars without any strata above them; they are small, but by much the neatest formed of any in this quarter.

The first division of this islet, for at high water, it is divided into two parts, makes a kind of cone, the pillars converging together towards the centre. On the other side the pillars are in general recumbent; and in the front, next the main, the beautiful manner in which they are joined is visible from their even extremities; all these have their tranverse sections exact, and their surfaces smooth; but with the larger pillars the reverse is the case, and they are cracked in all directions.

The main island opposite the Boo-sha-'lay, and thence towards the north-west, is entirely supported by ranges of pillars, pretty erect, which, although not apparently tall, from their not being uncovered to the base, are of large diameter; at their feet is an irregular pavement, made by the upper sides of such as have been broken off. This extends as far under the water as the eye can reach.

In proceeding along the shore, the superb cavern of Fingal appears, for such is the denomination given it by the Highlanders, to whom it is known. It is supported on each side by ranges of columns, and is roofed by the bottoms of such as have been broken away. From the interstices of the roof a yellow stalactitic matter has exuded, which precisely defines the different angles; and, varying the colour, tends to augment the elegance of its appearWhat adds to the grandeur of the scene, the whole cave is lighted from without, in such a manner, that the fartherest extremity is plainly distinguished; while the air within, being constantly in motion, owing to the flux and

ance.