Читать книгу Cavern Researches - Rev. John MacEnery - Страница 5

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To the following incident I am indebted for first directing my steps towards the Cavern.

Having one morning in the summer of 1825 chanced to hear my friend Captain Welby express his intention to join an exploring party there, I was induced to accompany him. We found his relation Mr. Northmore, of whom mention has already been made, at its entrance, surrounded by about a dozen persons, among whom were remarked the Commander of the Coast Guard and his men, all busy in equipping themselves for their expedition under ground.

The passage being too narrow to admit more than one person at a time, and that only in a stooping posture, the company entered in files, each bearing a light in one hand and a pick-axe in the other, headed by a guide carrying a lantern before the chief of the party. I made the last of the train, for I could not divest myself of certain undefinable sensations, it being my first visit to a scene of this nature. As soon as the party was assembled in the vestibule Mr. Northmore ascended a rock, from which he delivered instructions to the group around him, respecting the plan to be pursued in their operations during the day. He next distributed the Coast Guard through the several chambers, and employed himself in passing to and fro superintending their proceedings; notwithstanding which there was little or nothing added, on that occasion, to what was already known of the Cavern; indeed no individual, with his single arm, could do more than pierce the crust superficially. If instead of these desultory proceedings all hands had been brought to bear on any particular point, they must necessarily have reached the bones, for there is no part where they may not be found below the stalagmite.

The party were, however, somewhat consoled for their disappointment by the discovery, in the black mould, of certain rudely shaped pieces of oak, one of which was immediately shewn me by Mr. Braham, the finder; it was about the length and form of the human foot, and hollowed in the centre, not unlike a sandal. I accordingly gave it the name which it has since borne of the “Druid’s sandal.” The designation, although applied only in allusion to the lecture we have just heard, was too good not to be caught up and adopted, as it seemed to countenance certain fanciful doctrines then promulgated with all the authority of an oracle.

Perceiving that it was in vain to look for the fossils without first piercing the crust, which stood between them and the mould under-foot, I betook myself alone, to a spot which had the appearance of being disturbed. It was one of those perforations in the floor which further observation enabled us to trace to burrowing animals, situated half way down the vestibule, or sloping chamber, in a cove on the right against the wall. The mouth was partially choked up with soil, of which a heap was thrown up round its margin, it was slightly glazed over with the droppings, the earth was of a reddish brown, unctuous to the touch, and from the presence of a profusion of recent bones, bore evident marks of frequent disturbance. On tumbling it over, the lustre of the enamel soon betrayed its contents; they were the first fossil teeth I had ever seen, and as I laid my hand on these relics of distinct races, and witnesses of an order of things which passed away with them, I shrunk back involuntarily; though not insensible to the excitement attending new discoveries, I am not ashamed to own, that, in the presence of these remains, I felt more of awe than joy; but whatever may have been the impressions or speculations that rushed into my mind, this in not the place to indulge them; my present business is with facts.

I pursued my search in silence, and kept my good fortune a secret, fearing that amidst the press and avidity of the party to possess some fossil memorial of the day, my discoveries would be damaged, or perhaps share the fate of those abstracted from Mr. Northmore’s basket. I was anxious to send them in a state in which they were found to Oxford.

In addition to the specimens of the five species figured in Mr. W. C. Trevilyan’s plate, there appeared several new ones, belonging to horse, deer, hare, rabbit, &c., head of field rat, (Campagnol) and a small feline or cat, with the bones of two species of birds. But the most remarkable discovery of all, was of the upper jaw of a hyena, the bone of which was eaten away close to the roots of the teeth, and even the upper portion, or gum, bore impressions of gnawing. The whole was accompanied by bones belonging, principally, to the small quadrupeds, some of which were fractured at their extremities as if by the bite of a dog and their barrels loaded with mud; along with the above was sent a lump of the soil through which were disseminated small splinters of bone, and teeth of the compagnol, the whole was immediately drawn on stone in a superior style, by the lady who executed Mr. Trevilyan’s plate; this may be regarded as the first gleam of light that was thrown on the condition of the contents of the Cavern. My communication was followed by an answer which urged me to follow up my good fortune. [Dr. Buckland’s letter, which is directed to be inserted here, is unfortunately lost.]