The diameter of this pit might be 3 yards, but we took no measure of it.
At the extreme right of the cave we found another pit, a yard and a half across, two-thirds of the circumference of which was formed by the plateau of ice on which we stood, and the remaining third by a fluting in the wall of rock.

The maire said that, two years ago, this hole was not visible, being concealed by a large ice-column which had since fallen in.

Here again I let down a lighted candle, with more hopes of getting it to the bottom, as no part of the cave drained into the pit.

The candle descended steadily, the flame showing no signs of atmospheric disturbance, and revealing the fact that the opposite side of the pit, viz.

the rock, which alone was visible from our position, became more and more thickly covered with ice, of exquisite clearness, and varied and most graceful forms.