pation, and also one of the Emperor Antoninus Pius, A.D. 131, which might be the period of the last occupancy. There were also found, bones of the native dog, fox, ox, wild boar, the upper portion of the skull and antlers of a mature roebuck, and a nearly complete skeleton of the red deer. It would be impossible for this animal to have got in through the present entrance, and Mr. Denny's conjecture is that before the fall of rock and earth which now divides the cave into two distinct portions, the creature crept in by some other entrance to die. The presence of the skull of the roebuck proved, in his opinion, the extreme antiquity of the cave, as this animal was contemporary with the mammoth, rhinoceros, and megaceros. In 1881 the cave was again explored under the superintendence of Mr. E. P. Poulton, M.A., F.G.S., assisted by a party of Oxford undergraduates, and an interesting paper on it was read before the British Association at York in the same year. He gives the dimensions of the two portions as follows:-The eastern division 450 feet, the western about 250 feet in extent. He stated that the principal difficulty experienced in the work of excavation was the disposal of the débris, for which purpose they erected a windlass and drew the rubbish out of the mouth of the cave. It is to be feared that the paucity of the remains found would not compensate for the necessary outlay and trouble. Mr. Poulton may however be congratulated on having cleared up several points respecting this cave which had been left in doubt or not fully established. He proved conclusively its great antiquity, and assigned to it a pre-glacial period. He penetrated further than any previous exploring party, and, not content with turning over a few layers of débris, sunk a shaft in the principal chamber and found that the original floor was many feet below the present one. He discovered the original mouth, now blocked with earth and rocks, and overgrown with grass, but considered that the present entrance was the one used by its human inhabitants. He alludes in terms of warm praise to the help rendered him by the Oxford undergraduates, and we can hardly conceive a pleasanter way of spending a portion of the long vacation-lodging at the pretty village of Hawkswick, a mile away from the hill top where the cave is situate, and working in company with two experienced lead miners from the neighbouring village of Grassington. Living on the homely but nourishing fare of the dale, they would return to their books and studies refreshed and invigorated by the keen air of the hill tops of Littondale. Another interesting cave may be seen three miles further up the valley, in a wood on the left hand above Arncliffe. This, unlike the last, is an outlet of a watercourse, from which a very considerable volume of water must at one time have rolled, as the entrance is 20 feet wide and 8 feet high. The roof, all the way through, presents a singularly clean cut horizontal surface, as though prepared by a mason's tools. When we are well within the cave and turn to look at the entrance, we see a very beautiful picture of the hillside opposite, set in a frame of the deepest ebony. On lighting the candles when fifty yards inside, we notice the millions of drops of water on the roof caused by condensation, which sparkle in the artificial light like diamonds. The floor, which is rough broken stone, is wet for the first 50 to 100 yards, but afterwards becomes dry and comparatively easy walking, the dimensions gradually narrowing, until at the distance of 200 yards it is about 4 feet wide and 6 feet high, through solid limestone, and winding in its course according as the water found for itself the easiest way of escape from its prison. About 200 yards in, and where there was not a ray of light, we found a great many specimens of a variety of moth, which one would hardly have expected to meet with so far from the outer air. At the distance of about 300 yards the height diminishes until it becomes necessary to stoop or creep, and we returned; though from the fact that there was a considerable current of air which threatened the light, it appeared likely that some communication might ultimately have been found with the outer air. This is decidedly the cleanest and most accessible cave in the district, being free from the mud which more or less prevails in all the others, and there is no reason why ladies should not accompany a party of gentlemen without danger to shoes or dress, if the first 100 yards are traversed carefully. There is another similar, though smaller, cave on the opposite side of the valley, which the tourist might explore if time permitted; but the next important one is to be seen about a mile and a-half above Kettlewell, called The Dovecote Cave. From this in wet weather issues a considerable stream of water, and even in the dryest season a steady current is always running at the bottom, and finds its way, under the fallen rock at the entrance, to the ghill below. There is an enormous pile of stones at the entrance which, if cleared away, would give it quite an imposing appearance. Before entering this cave, an extraordinary current of cold air is met, which is forced up through the fallen rock on which you stand by the stream which runs below. Some years ago a gentleman made an extensive survey of the cave, taking with him an escort of men with lights and a small ladder; it was in some places of noble proportions, and some bones were found. The distance explored on that occasion would be fully half a mile, without any appearance of termination. The visitor while here should take the opportunity of seeing the ghill below, which, on a small scale, reminds one of Dungeon Ghill in the Lake District. There are two falls in close proximity which have cut their way through walls of solid rock, and must in wet weather cause a commotion, with a fine body of water. In dry weather the bed of the stream is easily fordable, and a fine effect can be obtained by climbing into the empty basin of the falls. It is a singular and interesting fact that the conformation of the hills round Kettlewell, and the situation of the little village, is almost an exact counterpart of the present Shechem, in Palestine. Archdeacon Boyd, who resides at Arncliffe, was so struck by it that he has a photograph of the two places placed side by side in the vicarage. JOSEPH LATCHMORE. THE WELL AT BETHLEHEM. (2 SAM. XXIII. 13-17.) WAR in the land! On Bethlehem's slopes of green, No peaceful herds, no shepherd-tents are seen; The young, the old, the sick, no longer dare War in the land! In Rephaim's shadowy vale, All else is hushed! The palm-tree is not swayed Is not the arm that laid Goliath low Still strong to smite the stern invading foe? Will David's hand no conquering sword display 'Scaped from the city with his warrior-band Nobly he toils to save his bleeding land. |