The Jenolan Caves: An Excursion in Australian Wonderland

by Samuel Cook

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.

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[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.

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[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

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[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. ]

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[The Jenolan Caves.]

[CHAPTER I.]