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dome is placed immediately over it, which nicely corresponds to
the hollow receptacle at the bottom. Into this bason a rivulet
falls down a steep rock above six feet high, which is very
dangerous to get up, and must be done at the expense of a wet
skin, except a ladder is taken along with the party, or the
waters are less copious than when we were there: there is also
some danger lest the adventurer should fall back, and have his
bones broken by circumjacent rocks, or be drowned in the doctor's
bason. After having surmounted this obstacle, and proceeded some
yards farther, we were favoured with an egress into our own
element, as was before observed; no unwelcome change, after
having been so long excluded from it. After having rested
ourselves a little, we returned to the chasm where we first
entered Long-churn, and descending again, pursued the rivulet
eastward, along another extensive subterranean passage called
Dicken-pot, which slopes and winds by degrees till it enters the
ghastly and tremendous Alan-pot. We went an hundred and
fifty-seven yards along this 'antre-vast,' till we came to a
steep rock full twelve feet perpendicular. Here we stopped - a
wise consideration. We might have descended perhaps without
danger; but the question was, how were we to get up again; which,
without ropes or a ladder, would be totally impracticable. At the
far end was an elegant lofty dome, called by the country people
St. Paul's. There is no doubt but if we had ventured further we
might have come to Alan-pot, at least so near as either to have
seen the water that stagnates at its bottom, or the light that is
admitted into this gaping monster of nature.
There are several other caves, all along from hence, on the south
side of Ingleborough, above the village of Clapham, to Ingleton;
but we postponed the pleasure of exploring these hidden recesses
of nature till another summer. We descended from hence, along the
banks of the river Ribble, four or five miles farther, to the
village of Horton, situated at the bottom of the lofty and
elegant mountain Pennegant. As we went along we passed a large
heap of small round stones, called an [hurder]
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