Welsh Journals

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because it moves when you crawl under it) but were prevented from going any further because we judged the water level to be too high for safety. Twice the cave had beaten us. The following week, however, was fine with little rain and when we returned to Llethrid on the Saturday the stream was considerably lower. This time we were able to pass the Rocking Boulder and press on towards our goal-the Main Chamber. It was the first time most of us had been in such a big cave and the curious way the water had sculptured the rock fascinated us. Beyond the Rocking Boulder lie the Rift Passages. These are straight passages nearly keyhole shaped owing to the effect of the water. The rock is fluted and scalloped in the most miraculous manner and the whole passage presents a very striking and fascinating picture. There are two of these passages and then a long tunnel which leads to the Ante-Chamber. From here a slippery rock slope leads to a mud tunnel which in turn opens into the Great Hall. This is a vast chamber two hundred to three hundred feet long, richly ornamented with stalactites and stalagmites, and formations with fascinating names the Organ Pipes the Mushroom and the Church and Steeple Per- haps the most outstanding is the Curtain which must be one of the finest in Wales. This is a sheet of calcite streaked (like a bacon rasher) with brown, due to the iron in the rock. At the far end of the chamber near the Church and Steeple is a small cluster of helictites, or erratic stalactites, which not only grow down but also sideways in curls and twists. We now fitted ourselves out with boiler suits, boots, helmets and acetylene lamps which, though not as reliable as electric torches, give a better light and are less expensive. We were now keen cave explorers. We read of Mr. Clague Taylor's work in the Llanrhidian area and went to look for the Quarry Pot. We found that it had unfortunately been used as a rubbish dump the first chamber and part of the second are completely choked with rubbish. The third chamber is, however, quite interesting and contains a passage in the roof-this is rather an exciting little cave. In this area we also visited Stembridge Cave and could clearly see the difficulty which Mr. Taylor must have had in digging through the calcite floor. We had some difficulty ourselves in getting down the pothole in this cave but found the tunnels beyond most exciting. We found one cave in this area where a rock fall had blocked the entrance. Being full of enthusiasm we decided to dig it out. Two of us came armed with shovels, ropes, etc., and set to work convinced that this would be an easy task-how wrong we were Several boulders barred our way and it was only after much heaving and shoving that we managed to make any impression on them. After the first day we had cleared to a depth of about