THE BLUE GROTTO OF CAPRI.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2558, 1 December 1888, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE BLUE GROTTO OF CAPRI.

It is not only above ground that Capri ia rich in natural wonders. Even if it wore only a bleak and barren rock its grottoes and caverns would be worth going all the way to see, notably the Grotto Bianca, the Grotto of Mithras, I Faraglioni, and the Grotto Verde. But its crowning wonder is the Grotto Assuri or Blue Grotto, famous throughout the world, and probably without a parallel. Let the visitor select a day when the sea is calm and the tide is low—in stormy weather and at high tide the cavern is inaccessible—and take a boat at the landing-place ; thence for a lira and a half he may speedily be transported into fairyland. He will be rowed round to a point where at first he will discern nothing but perpendicular cliffs. Presently, however, the boatman brings up to a small dark aperture about three feet high. This is the entrance to what was long known as the Witches' Cave. The most daring did not venture to penetrate the opening ; but at length as the story goes, two German artists determined to swim into it, and they thus discovered the extraordinary beauty of the place which now all strangers visit as the Blue Grotto. To enter, the occupants ot the boat must stretch themselves along and guide it with their hands and in a moment or two they will glide through the darkness into a marvellous cavern, 165 feet long by 100 ft wide and 40 feet high. At first the visitor is blinded by the intense radiance which fills every part of the grotto, but as he gradually becomes accustomed to it he is transported by the magnificence around him ; he appears to have passed into some palace of enchantment set with silver and precious stones. The finest description of this grotto that I have met with is that which occurs in the last chapter of Hans Anderson's " Improvisator," which my readers will thank me fcr quoting. "In hardly more than a moment we were in an immensely large vault, where all gleamed iike the ether. The water below was like a blue burning lire, which lighted up the whole. All around was closed ; but below the water the little opening by which we had entered prolonged itself almost to the bottom of the sea, to forty fathoms in depth and expanded itself to about the same width. By this means the strong sunshine outside threw a light upon the floor of the Grotto, and, streaming in now like a fire through the blue water, seemed to change it into burning spirit. Everything gave back the reflection of this j the rocky arch, all seemed as if

formed of consolidated air and to dissolve away into it. The water-drops which were thrown up by the motion of the oara dropped red, as if they had been fresh rose-leaves. . . . The little opening to the cave, which had shone like a clear star was now darkened for a moment, and then other boats seemed to asceud as if from the deep. They came into the cave. All was contemplation and devotion. The Protestant as well as the Catholic felt here that miracles still exist." Strange as this description is, it is acknowledged to be far less strange than the scone which is sketched ; the deep blue light turns the rocks into turquois and emerald ; the oars as they rest in the water seem covered with frosted silver. If the visitor wishes it, the boatman will plunge into the water for a silver lira, and then appears to be "encased in armour more gorgeous than ever kingly Crusader woreand if • atone be thrown in the myriad tiny bubbles that are created flash out in » brilliant shower like blue theatrical fire. —From an article on " Capri," iu Sunday Magazine for October.