HOLLOWED IN THE CRUST.

Otago Witness, Issue 2389, 14 December 1899, Page 63

HOLLOWED IN THE CRUST.

By a Bankeb.

Deep down in the depths of the earth, hollowed in its crust) lie hidden innumerable vast cavernous recesses; some a series of naturally sculptured aud pillared halls, connected by regularly formed pa-ssages and vestibules, elegantly ornamented with artistic decorations and festooned columns srs if by the hand of man ; some an unfathomable abyss, such aa that at Frederkstall, -the depth, of which is so utterly profound- (the lowest estimate being 39,866 ft) that if the computed depth is at all correct, which, however, is doubtful, if a column of rock equaL in height .to twice that of .Mont Blanc were -lowered into the chasm, the top of the column would still be several thousands of feet beneath' the leyel of the pit's mouth.

And some, as the caves of Kentucky, are of illimitable extent, their innumerable ramifications stretching many miles in all directions, and forming a complete underground territory, in which are houses, lakes, and rivers, waterfalls, roads, and causeways, cemeteries, ar.d even stalactitic accretions almost resembling gothic cathedrals. In this mammoth cave, the various labyrinthine corridors of which are calculated to extend to a length of a hundred and fifty miles, the rugged scenery is described as being wild and terrible; and the atmosphere is of such a genial and unvarying warmth that a hospital for consumptives has been established in its dark recesses.

In Derbyshire are many extraordinary caverns, perhaps the most noteworthy being a weird chasm in the height 3of Abraham. Entering by a small hole in the side of the hill, the visitor descends a flight of perhaps 60 or 80 steps rudely cut in the rock, preceded by a ■ guide (who in the writer's case was a mere child) provided with a cheap caudle. Arrived at the bottom, a narrow hilly passage is threaded for some distance, at the further end of which a turbulent subterranean mountain torrent plunges impetuously down its rocky bed, the white foam in the dim light intensifying the stygian darkness of the black waters. The irregular rocky banks of this awe-inspirirg rushing cataract are skirted for a time, when the little guide proceeds to cross it by springing from rock to rock in the semi-darkness, holding the candle for the traveller to follow., Happily the rocks are, not slippery, but ns the thought suggests itself that if a false step were inaSe,'or if 'the child dropped the'eandle" into the river, the position wovild not be one of -absolute and unalloyed pleasure, it may readily be imagined that a feeling of considerable satisfaction 'is experienced when tho other side is safely reached, although the pleasure is some_what tempered, by the reflection that the.peul must again be faced on tho return journey.

After following the course of the river for a. short distance the guide creeps through a narrow cleft in the rock, so small that a person of adipose physique would have some difficulty in forcing himself through, and an extensive hall it reached, the dimensions and height of which the insufficient light altogether failed to reveal. At the further end of this hall the writer -was invited to creop through another tunnelled aperture, but as the candle might burn out, and he was unwilling to be under the necessity of having to grope his way back in total darkness, and to remain helpless and starving ou the river bank until an exploration party was saiit to discover his whereabouts, he decided upon discontinuing further subterranean investigations, and returned without mishap through the dismal obscurity, heartily glad to emerge from the darksome gloom into the glorious exhilarating sunlight. And just so is the experience of many in. this world. They wander about in the gloom of doubt or in .the total darkness of unbelief without one ray of light to guide them, their darkened understanding refusing to accept the Word of God, because it does not coincide with their own puny ideas of what should be and what should not be, condemning the Sacred Book because their tortuous philosophy adjudges vhat it contains difficulties which they consider fata!.

But if, with open mind and real earnestness*, they would only supplicate for the enlightening power of the Holy Spirit, all the gloom and darkness of doubt and unbelief would be dissipated, and they would emeige into the glorious light of unclouded faith and enraptured heaven-born felicity.

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