selves understood. They seem to possess a peculiar faculty of acquiring words and sentences, which they will repeat with tolerable accuracy several days later. Knockem favoured us with several songs, which amused us exceedingly.

"These Tchutchi Indians are far different from the American Indians in manners, appearance, and customs. They are short in stature, with immensely broad and powerful chests; small, wellshaped feet and hands; and are quite active and enterprising. They subsist by hunting the whale, the seal, the bear, and reindeer, and live entirely upon animal food, with a decided preference for blubber, or fat of the whale; they are nearly all affected with cutaneous diseases, scurvy and itch_being the most prevalent. The absence of vegetable food, which does not exist in this section, is evidently the cause of so much disease.

"The village is situated upon a peninsula extending about one mile into the bay. It consists of about forty or fifty houses or huts, which are constructed of skins and the bones of the whale; the frame-work consists of the rib-bones of the leviathan, over which the skins of the seal are tensely stretched, which renders them quite waterproof. The winter residences,' where they dwell during the severe winter season, are built under-ground, and are entered from the summer huts through a tunnel burrowed into the ground to the length of fifteen to twenty feet. These houses, and also the tunnels, are supported from the heavy weight of snow by the immense ribbones of the whale. To enter one of these underground habitations it is necessary to travel the length of the tunnel upon the hands and knees. The cooking operations are performed over a fire made of oil or blubber, and warmth is received from the same source.

"The women have the entire charge of the house, perform the butchering, and preside with great dignity over their domestic duties. They are very masculine in appearance, and can hardly be distinguished from the men. In fact, about the only distinguishable feature they have is a slight tattooing upon the chin, and the dress, which is somewhat Turkish in style. I should make an exception to Mrs. Knockem, to whom we were introduced with much formality by her liege lord. Being complimented upon her good looks, Knockem assured us that she was the 'best-looking woman in the city.' Wherever we have been the Indians expressed the greatest friendship to us as American. They treasure with the greatest pride the smallest gift from an American, and will do anything in their power to promote the welfare or comfort of "'Merican men.' They look upon the Americans as their friends, and do not scruple to show their preferences.

"In Russian America, as in Siberia, the same feeling exists, and we have everywhere received from the Indians the most profound respect and friendship which could be extended in their humble manner. The offer of a piece of salt meat with which you would not feed a dog has as much significance of friendship from

EXPLORATION OF A VAST CAVE.

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these simple people as a banquet given by the Court of St. James.

Reindeer and bears exist in paying quantities; many of the former are domesticated, and are used for drawing sledges; they are used in preference to dogs, owing to the mountainous character of the country. We saw herds of them grazing upon the mountains which belonged to a tribe of Indians living some miles west of us. They brought us a supply of venison, upon which we regaled ourselves for several days. The meat is much richer and more nutritive than the venison of the United States, though not as palatable.

"The character of the country at this point is certainly a wild one. On entering the harbour, one is struck with the grandeur and magnificence of the large mountains of solid rock, which tower from 2,000 to 3,000 feet above the level of the sea. Upon these mountains are peaks or columns jutting up, which give them the appearance of ruins of an old castle, nothing but the pillars remaining. As we approach they appear more numerous, and in the twilight look like a body of soldiers.

"The range of mountains extends along the sides of the bay into the interior, but partakes of a different formation from the range upon the sea. Directly opposite our anchorage they rise to the height of 3,000 feet, and seem to consist entirely of small pieces of rock about the size McAdam used for pavements. Snow had fallen here, and was marked upon the mountains about 1,500 feet from the base. On the 27th, the thermometer marked freezing for the first time. Ice formed upon the brook where we were obtaining our supply of fresh water. In the interior the valleys are broad, and well supplied with fresh water and game.

"On the 26th, the wind being favourable, we took leave of our Asiatic Indian friends. They remained on board as long as possible, and seemed to regret our departure very much.

EXPLORATION OF A VAST CAVE NEAR LEAVENWORTH, INDIANA.

A CORRESPONDENT of the Herald, and who was one of the exploring party, gives the following account:

"A party from Louisville, accompanied by citizens of this place, had explored the cave to the distance of three-quarters of a mile, but were stopped by a wide subterranean river, too deep for fording, and which they had no means of crossing. Another party -consisting of Mayor Trocmorton, of Louisville; Capt. Holcraft, Sheriff Swayne, Dr. E. R. Hawn, and Lyman E. Knapp, of this place, Mr. Jesse Brandon, of Nashville, and your correspondentwent prepared to make a thorough exploration of the cave. Besides the necessary lights, ropes, waterproof clothing, &c., they

carried with them a light but staunch boat prepared expressly for the occasion, on which to cross the mysterious stream that had, on the former occasion, stopped their further progress.

"The stream was reached without difficulty, and by means of a boat a crossing was easily effected, and with light hearts we went to prosecute our explorations.

Directly ahead was a wide gallery, whose roof was so high that we could scarcely distinguish it by the feeble light of the lamps, while to the right and left the stream ran through another gallery or chamber, the two intersecting each other like the arms of a Greek cross. We followed the gallery before us for about a quarter of a mile, when it suddenly narrowed, and apparently came to an abrupt termination. After searching for an outlet, and finding none, we were on the point of reluctantly turning back, when a shout of exultation from Dr. Hawn proclaimed that he had found an opening. To the right, and some distance from the termination of the cul de sac, the doctor had discovered a narrow opening. Crawling through this on our hands and knees for several hundred yards, we came upon a high vaulted chamber, partially lighted from above, which was the most magnificent underground hall I have ever seen. Thousands of stalactites hung pendent from above, reflecting the glare of the torches in millions of pure rays of dazzling light. If the ceilings and sides had been literally hung with enormous clusters of diamonds, the effect could not have been more bewildering. For a moment the entire party was awe-stricken and speechless. Then the more excitable ones broke forth in a rapturous applause.

"Numerous small galleries were found, radiating in every direction from this central chamber, and these were explored in turn, some of them coming to an abrupt close against a dead blank wall of rock, and others gradually narrowing until they could be followed no farther. Others forked, branching off into two or three other galleries. It was found that the thorough exploration of the cavern from this point would be a work of weeks, if not months.

"In one place was found a deep circular hole, apparently almost bottomless. Stones dropped into its gaping mouth could be heard sullenly plunging from side to side, until the noise of their descent was lost in the abyss far below. Mr. Knapp was let down by a strong cord a distance of some thirty yards, when he vigorously signified that he had seen enough by jerking the rope. Mr. Knapp said that, after descending a distance of fifteen or twenty feet, numerous winged things, apparently bats, viciously snapped their mandibles together with a sort of twitter. One of these cold, clammy, and inexpressibly nasty-alighted on his face and inflicted a severe bite.

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Tired and weary of sight-seeing, the party was on the point of starting on the return, when, at the earnest solicitations of Dr. Fawn, we consented to at least partially explore another cavern.

HOW TO LIVE DOWN REPROACH.

63

It was followed but a short distance when it suddenly narrowed. Mr. Knapp going first, passed through the opening on his hands and knees, and entered another large chamber. Dr. Hawn, who is a very heavy man, attempted to follow, but became inextricably fixed in the passage. He could neither get forward nor back. For three hours the party worked incessantly, but all to no purpose. Meantime, one by one the lamps had burned out, until barely enough of oil was left to light us on our way back to the river. The thought of being imprisoned in that living tomb was too terrible to be endured, for we knew that without light we could never find our way back. A panic seized upon the party, and hastily leaving the doctor and Mr. Knapp to their fate, we rapidly retraced our steps, crossed the river, and returned to the town.

"A supply of oil, tools, &c., were procured, and we returned to the cave, determined to rescue our comrades, or perish in the attempt. The river was crossed, and we proceeded to the grand chamber where we had taken our lunch, accompanied by numerous citizens of Leavenworth. But, search as closely as we would, we could not find the gallery in which the doctor and Mr. Knapp were entombed. In vain we explored and shouted, until worn out and fainting. All to no purpose. Nearly three days passed since we first entered the cave, and during all that time it had been full of people uselessly hunting for the two unfortunate men. One after another of the various galleries leading from the grand chamber were explored and blazed with chalk marks, but still the missing men could not be found. The guide of the Mammoth Cave in Kentucky was sent for to assist in the search.

"Mr. Knapp escaped at last. A hunter found him lying at the mouth of what was generally considered a sort of sinkhole, about five miles from the town. Mr. Knapp's condition was too precarious to admit of a detailed account of his escape, but by what I can gather from his incoherent explanations, it seems that finding he could not return, he went ahead, in hope of finding an outlet. After what seemed an age of wandering and groping in the dark, and after having several times despairingly lain down to die, he was at last successful in emerging from his living tomb. He fainted on coming to the open air, and was in this condition found by a hunter. A party went to enter the cavern by the way Mr. Knapp

came out."

Whether or not Dr. Hawn was found we have not learned.

HOW TO LIVE DOWN REPROACH.

PHILIP, King of Macedon, was used to say, that he was much beholden to the Athenian orators; for that by their opprobrious and slanderous words against him, they helped to make him a better man both in word and deed. "For," said he, "I every day do my best endeavour, as well in my sayings as doings, to prove them liars."

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Remarkable Things.

THE CUTTLE-FISH.

This peculiar creature is abundant in the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, and is not unfrequently found around our own shores. Their feet, or arms, for they are used for both purposes, are arranged in a circular manner around the mouth, hence they go by the name of Cephalopoda, from two Greek words, which, put together, signify the union of the head and feet. In the ordinary type of the cuttle-fish, the body is not much larger than a man's fist. It is oval in shape, and is covered with a thick skin having the appearance of leather. For the purpose, we suppose, of strength, it possesses a peculiar substance, which, for want of a better name, is called a bone. This is not attached to the body by any muscle, but is simply enclosed in a kind of sac, and will drop out if the sac be opened. The "cuttle bone we not unfrequently see cast upon the beach after the death of its owner. It has a chalky, porous appearance, and was formerly used in medicine as an absorbent. The eyes of the cuttle-fish are large and bright, and are protected by a hard transparent substance. The mouth is hard, horny, and strong, very much resembling the beak of a parrot, and is, therefore, capable of inflicting terrible wounds. When pursued by an enemy, they eject a dark, inky fluid, which serves the twofold purpose of covering their retreat by clouding the water, and rendering it so bitter as to drive off the enemy. The young come from eggs, some of which we sometimes see cast upon the shore, having the appearance of a bunch of small dark grapes; and, accordingly, they have received the name of "seagrapes.' But that which makes these creatures so peculiar is the arms already alluded to. Each of these is furnished with hollow round discs, set in rows, and each disc at the will of its owner acts like a cupping-glass or a boy's leather sucker, firmly adhering to any object to which it may be attached. When the cuttle-fish throws one of its limbs thus armed around any unfortunate fish that may come in its way, the poor victim is at once arrested. To struggle is in vain, for it is as firmly fixed as if held in a vice. The other limbs are immediately thrown around it, and the parrotlike bill of its captor soon puts an end to its misery. Indeed, so firmly do the arms of the cuttle-fish adhere to an object, that except by the will of their owner, it is easier to break them than to detach them.

Out in the ocean some species of the cephalopod are found of an enormous size. Lieutenant Bowyer saw one about forty leagues north of Teneriffe, which appeared to be about twelve yards long and two wide. Its body, shaped like an immense horn,