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conduct me. Accordingly we crossed the water in a small
boat and there was the Baron's English charriot with
six fine horses which had been transported over the
river broader than the Thames at London in floats.
We drove to the Commander's of the Saltworks, who
went round with me to shew
all the works and particularly
a new boiling k pan an invention of a common
peasant who was directing the execution of it
at his own expence in hopes of a reward in case of its succeding
The Commander of the works gave me Models
of the set of instruments used to make in boring the salt holes
with and after promising to spend a day with him
at my return from the remaining part of my
expedition, we hastened to get back to the Baron's
to dinner. When we came to cross the water again
instead of the small boat we had come over in, was a
monstrous house barge something in the taste of
those of the London companies rowed with 14 oars
and decked with colours. When we came near clo
landing a number of Guns were fired in salute
from the shoreside. — But you will have all
this in my journal one day or other I must only
tell you that in the evening I set out for the
Cavern in which I spent 2 days and a night as
I found when I came out, for all is darkness there
and I happened not to have my watch with me.
The entrance to this cavern might well put one in
mind of poor Gil Blas's residence. Tis true it was not
covered with a trap door; but the hole was so small
that such a precaution would have been unnecessary.
Although there was snow on the ground, it was necessary
to pull off all but a waistcoat, not to run the hazard
of sticking by the way. Thus prepared we, one after another
crawled on our bellies crawled for 8 or 10 fathoms: we then were
able to raise ourselves up upon our hands & knees; soon after upon our feet
in a stooping position; and in about a hundred fathoms came to
a spacious vaultlike opening. As you may imagine, it
was much warmer than above ground. My company
consisted of my Interpreter & servant with 8 or 9 peasants
some of whom had been here several times & had penetrated as far as their fears
would let them. These gave an account of a lake into
which they had seen or rather heard something plunge at
their approach. this something no one had attempted to pass
this lake. The hill or rock in which this cavern is formed
consists of a calcareous stone of a greyish colour. The water from
above as it filters through into the cavern forms stalactites
and crystals of various figures. It is in search of such curiosities
that people have been from time to time sent here. I went part
---page break---
with the same view, but more perhaps with the expectation of
observing something which such as had been sent there, through
fear, ignorance, or laziness might have passed unnoticed.
We had a provision of a or 36 english pounds of
candles with us, so that supposing they would burn we were
in little danger of wanting light. As our course was up &
down precipices of 10, 20 or more feet in height, and we had each
of us a basket or bottle of provision of some kind to encumber
us, we were not very expeditious. The distance to this lake had
been magnified to about 12 English miles but however after turning
round & round 2 or 3 times to the same plane in about 4
hours we arrived where this lake ought to have been:
Nothing however but a puddle a little over ones ankles appeared
and in a few fathom we came to the end which was
no more remarkable than any other part. As by my Compass
I perceived that in our course we sometimes turned quite round, I
cannot conceive the distance to be above 3/4 of an english mile
We now began to be hungry & fatigued; but found it necessary
to return about halfway before we found a convenient
place to spread our table. Some fine English cheese
which Sir James Harris had supplied me with at my setting out,
from Petersbourg with some English beer which the Baron Strogonof had
ordered to be packed up with a store of other provisions for
this excursion, made the more remarkable part of my prov
fare during any subterraneous residence. As nothing was
to be had to lye on but stones, in the choice of the bed
place the object was to find one stone or a number lying
nearly in one level for a sufficient length to stretch ones self out upon.
I had with me a large Spanish cloak to which I have been
under great obligation on such occasions. This I wrapped
nearly twice round me, and stretched myself out on one
entire stone with a small one and my great coat upon
it for a pillow. The rest did as well as they could, and
after seeing that half a dozen candles were fixed up besides
a little fire made of bits of wood which had been left by people
at other times, I no doubt in a few minutes made the whole cavern
echo with my Benthamian snoring. I slept sound however
for 4 or 5 hours when at my waking to my no small astonishment
all was darkness. My Interpreter who was close
to me, at the same time let me know, that he was that moment
awaked, that the last candle was just put out by some
water which dript
onto it from above, and that he had had just time
enough before that happened to observe that all the
men were gone away. This was bit sad news;
as without light we could neither of us move a yard
without danger of falling down a precipice of 15 or 20 feet.
to it was absolutely in vain to have the least thoughts
of making our way out of the cave without assistance.
I comforted however myself & him with the idea of
my having the provisions within my reach, which
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Identifier: | JB/539/268/002 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 539.
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1782-01-02 |
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539 |
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268 |
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002 |
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Correspondence |
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Samuel Bentham |
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