File:Gibraltar and its sieges, with a description of its natural features (1879) (14769651665).jpg

Identifier: gibraltaritssieg00step (find matches)
Title: Gibraltar and its sieges, with a description of its natural features
Year: 1879 (1870s)
Authors: Stephens, Frederic George, 1828-1907
Subjects: Gibraltar -- Description and travel Gibraltar -- History Gibraltar -- History Siege, 1779-1783
Publisher: London, New York : T. Nelson
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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a-level. Theremains of a strong wall are visible near this entrance,which is only five feet wide. On entering, thestranger finds himself in a considerable cavity, abouttwo hundred feet in length, and ninety feet in breadth;and the light of his torch, if he penetrate into theinterior, reveals the mouths of several other caves.From the roof depend stalactites of great size andcurious shape, giving to the whole that character ofGothic architecture which is noticeable in all stalac-titic grottoes. There are also numerous stalagmites,which in some cases almost join the calcareous drop-pings from the roof, and appear to form supportingpillars. Mr. Bartlett describes in some detail a visit whichhe paid to this remarkable cave. Accompanied bya guide with blue lights, he descended the slipperypathway between lofty pillars of stalactite, to findhimself in a darkness visible, and in a silence sodeep and still that the droppings of the water whichfilters through the roof above could be distinctly
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A BRILLIANT DISPLAY. 33 heard as they fell at intervals on the rock beneath.The guide lighted a heap of brushwood, the blaze ofwhich disclosed to view a lofty vault-shaped dome,supported as it were on columns of milk-white stal-actite, not unlike the trunks of palm-trees, and avariety of fantastic foliage, some stretching down tt)the very floor of the cavern, others resting midwayon rocky ledges and congealed calcareous masses,springing from the floor, like the vestibule of somepalace of the genii. At a given signal the bluelights were kindled, and the entire scene, whichbefore had been but partially illuminated, flashedinto sudden splendour ; hundreds of stalactites shonewith a mysterious gleam ; the lofty columns, fan-tastically wrought, seemed suddenly converted intosilver, as if by the wand of some magician. Thisrevelation of the wonders of the cavern was buttransient; for the lights speedily burning down, Mr.Bartlett was forced to retire before he became involvedin dangerous dark

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