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[Illustration: THE CORAL GROTTO. [_Frontispiece_]
_ILLUSTRATED WITH TWENTY-FOUR PLATES AND MAP._
LONDON--GREAT NEW STREET, FLEET STREET, E.C.
THE following historical and descriptive account of the Jenolan (formerly called the Fish River) Caves was written for the _Sydney Morning Herald_. By the kind permission of the proprietors of that journal (Messrs. John Fairfax and Sons) and, at the request of numerous correspondents, it is now republished. The author is conscious, however, that neither tongue, nor pen, nor pictorial art can convey an adequate idea of the magnificence and exquisite beauty of these caves. Words are too poor to express the feelings of admiration and awe which are experienced by those who wander through the marvellous subterranean galleries embellished with myriads of graceful and fantastic forms of purest white alternating with rich colour and delicate tints and shades. Of all the caves in New South Wales those at Jenolan are the most beautiful, and well-travelled men admit that they are unrivalled in any other part of the world. As they are so little known this book may be interesting, and serve to give some impression concerning geological transformations and the slow processes of Nature in the production of works at once grand, ornate, and unique.
The illustrations are from photographs by Messrs. Kerry and Jones of Sydney, who have generously permitted the author to make selections from their beautiful and extensive series of cave pictures.
THE EXTERNAL FEATURES OF THE CAVES--THE GRAND ARCH 20
THE LUCAS CAVE--THE MUSIC HALL--THE SHAWL CAVE 65
THE EXHIBITION--THE BROKEN COLUMN--THE JEWEL CASKET--JUDGE WINDEYER'S COUCH--THE UNDERGROUND BRIDGE 73
THE LURLINE CAVE--THE FOSSIL BONE CAVE--THE SNOWBALL CAVE 83
THE IMPERIAL CAVE--THE WOOL SHED AND THE GRAVEL PITS--THE ARCHITECT'S STUDIO--THE BONE CAVE 92
THE RIGHT-HAND BRANCH OF THE IMPERIAL CAVE--THE SUBTERRANEAN RIVER 122
THE FOSSIL BONE CAVE, THE SPARKLING ROCK, AND THE CRYSTAL ROCK 133
THE CRYSTAL CITIES--THE SHOW-ROOM AND THE GRAND STALACTITES 147