GROTTO, is a subterraneous fissure or opening in the earth, generally adorned by calcareous incrustations, which produce a brilliant effect when illuminated by torches.
Mountainous and volcanic countries, or those regions which are partitioned into many islands, more frequently exhibit grottos, caverns, or fissures, than low or level grounds. They are also common in places subject to earthquakes, and have the greatest extent and intricacy in countries where huge masses of limestone abound.
The most celebrated grotto for beauty, size and, mag nificence, is that of AwripARos, an island of the Mediter ranean, already described in the previous part of this ; and that which is reputed next to it is of recent discovery in the island of Skye, among the Hebrides of Scotland. It had been long known to the islanders, that the mouth of a cavern, called Slochd 4ltriman, or the Nursling Cave, opened among the cliffs overhanging the sea on the south-west shore, and that a particular tradi tion was annexed to its history. But none ventured to ex plore its recesses, until, in the year 1808, the masculine intrepidity of a lady, Mrs Gillespie, exposed to more timid adventurers what has been called one of the most remark able phenomena, which exists in the structure of the earth.
This cave comes under the particular description of a grotto ; for, it may be observed, that a cave and a cavern, between which some authors even make a distinction, pro perly implies a subterraneous vacuity without incrusta tions. The land above Slochd Altriman is of moderate height ; but, from the shore consisting entirely of perpen dicular rocks, the entrance can be reached on foot only at low water, and then with particular difficulty. When the tide is up, however, a boat can easily approach it; unless the wind should render such an attempt dangerous from sunken rocks, and dislocations of stony masses from the cliffs. The grand access to the cave is formed by two im mense walls of free stone, separated thirty feet asunder, rising above 100 feet in perpendicular height, and stretch ing out in a straight line from the shore. Here the tide flows in about 400 feet; but, at low water, the bottom is rough, and covered with slippery weeds. • These obstruc tions being surmounted, a magnificent rugged arch, of a Gothic form, is presented to the spectator, and on one side an inferior cave with many lateral crevices. This great aperture is embellished with innunterable dark green sta lactites of various sizes; some descending to the ground, and forming pillars overgrown with moss, which, with the intermixture of vivid foliage, brown heath, and wild flowers, produces an interesting combination. Close to the entrance of this grotto, there is, as it were cut out of the stone, a small fountain of pure water, surrounded by rocky pillars, and the water collected in the cistern is de rived from the exudation of the rock above. A passage
about nine feet broad, and from fifteen to twenty in height, conducts the visitor almost on a perfect level for twenty yards, when a steep ascent for 55 feet leads up a bank of earth, sand, and small broken whinstone ; another acclivity now commences, more difficult to o‘ercome; of irregular surface, resembling a solid cascade, or snow, and sparkling with crystallizations. Advancing a few yards, the principal entrance to the interior grotto is gained, eight feet broad, and twelve in height, universally white as marble, and variously decorated with beautiful incrusta tions. Thousands of icicles of pure white spar are sus pended from the roof like the festoons of a curtain, giving the whole a finished appearance. The breadth, on pro ceeding still farther, enlarges to ten feet, and the height to forty, while the white marble spar continues rough and un even; and it is only after traversing thirty-five feet of this gallery, that the proper excavation, which has been deno minated the Spar Cave, is reached. It consists of a cir cula• vacuity about twenty feet in diameter, with a lofty roof, and a pool at the bottom, contained in a marble cis tern. But the whole is said to exhibit the most brilliant spectacle which imagination can conceive. The sparry concretions are innumerable, and in every variety of form ; while the lights, by which the spectator examines them, are reflected from a thousand glittering points. Many of the surrounding objects, formed by the calcareous deposi tions, are compared to animate and inanimate substances of various descriptions. To the right is the resemblance of a monk, as if kneeling on a cushion, with uplifted hands, and large as life. Behind it appear several sem blances of busts; and at a distance are seen the images of various animals, together with an exact representation of a fleece. But among the whole, the monk excites the greatest attention. The head is bare, after the monastic fashion ; the face is supposed to be distinct ; the shoulders are in just proportion; and the drapery of the robe enve loping the body is alike beautiful and correct. Figures of vegetables are every where formed; and numerous co lumns, some apparently supported by distorted .beings, seem to sustain the roof, which resemble's a pure white cloud suspended in the air. Portions of it, however, de scend in stalactites; which, together with the crystals in the interstices of the columns, emit fine coruscations from the lights below.