Journal of a Tour into the Interior of Missouri and Arkansaw | Page 6

a diameter of three hundred, having several passages diverging from it in various directions. The two largest passages lead south-west and south, and after winding along a considerable distance, in the course of which they are successively widened and narrowed, unite and lead on in a south course about five hundred yards, where the passage is choaked up by large masses of stalactite, formed by the water which has filtered through the superincumbent rock at that place. The largest passage from the circular amphitheatre of the cave diverging north, opens by another mouth in the rock, facing the valley of Cave Creek, at no great distance below the principal mouth by which we entered. Several smaller passages diverge from each of the main ones, but cannot be followed to any great extent, or are shut up by fragments of the fallen rock.ê Near the centre of the largest opening, a handsome spring of clear water issues, from which we procured our water while encamped in the cave.
The ragged faces and hanging position of many parts of the sides and roof of this cave, added to its sombre colour, which has been heightened by soot smoke, its great extent, singular ramifications, and the death-like stillness which pervades such ample spaces situated so far below ground, inspire both wonder and awe, and we did not return from our examination, without feeling impressions in regard to our own origin, nature, and end, and the mysterious connection between the Creator of these stupendous works and ourselves, which many have before felt, but none have yet been satisfied about. In contemplating this connection, we feel humiliated; human reason has no clue by which the mystery may be solved, and we imperceptibly became silent, absorbed in our own reflections. Such at least was the effect produced in this instance, and we returned to trim our night-fire and go to sleep, with the taciturnity of the American savage.
Friday, Nov. 13th
The atmosphere threatening rain this morning, we did not think proper to quit the cave, and have divided our time between hunting, mending our clothes, and noticing the geological character of the adjacent region. In hunting large game we are not very successful; our guns, as we were informed by the hunter's wife at Fourche ? Courtois, not being adapted to killing deer and bear. Of wild Turkey, ducks, and squirrels, we, however, kill a plenty, to answer our purposes, and we do not seek anything further. The most remarkable fact respecting the cave in which we are encamped, is the nitre which it yields. This is found in the native state, filling small crevices in the rock, and also in combination with the earth which forms the bottom of the cave. The nitre is formed by mixing this earth with a certain quantity of wood ashes, and lixiviating the whole in the common way by means of a tub and fasset. The potash of the wood-ashes is necessary to enable the salt to form, and the whole is then concentrated by boiling in a kettle, and afterwards set aside to cool and to crystallize. In this way the crude nitre is obtained, which may be brought to any required state of purity by redissolving and recrystallizing.
The works which have been erected by Colonel Ashley for this purpose are all situated in the mouth of the cave, so as to be completely protected from the weather. No person is, however, here at the present to attend to his business, and the works appear to have lain idle for some time. Large quantities of crude salt-petre are lying in the fore part of the cave.
The earth found in this cave, and which is now so highly charged with nitrous salts, presents an extraordinary circumstance for the consideration of the geologist, and one which must be conclusive in regard to the antiquity of the cave itself. This earth is a mixture of clay and sand in rather gross particles, but has sufficient tenacity to adhere in lumps when dug up, and contains plentifully interspersed pebbles of quartz, slate, granite, and other stones, and also fragments of horn-stone, or a kind of flint. It is in fact precisely the same kind of earth, deposited in the same manner, and mixed with the same stony substances, as the alluvion deposit which covers all the adjoining hills, and has constituted the soil of all the uplands from Potosi; nay, from the west banks of the Mississippi river to this place. The conclusion is irresistible, that this cavity in the rock existed previous to the deposition of the substratum of the soil upon the calcareous rock of this country, and, consequently, previous to the existence of trees or vegetation of any kind, unless it be of certain mosses and lichens which flourish upon naked