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Show 304 i H THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE Photograph by Willis T. Lee PILLARS IN ONE OF THE LOWER CHAMBERS OF CARLSBAD CAVERN BROKEN BY THE SETTLING OF THE FLOOR (SEE TEXT, PAGE 3 ' 5 ) This chamber, nearly i.ooo feet underground, has been named after the Indians' Nooge, or Place of Darkness, at the base of the universe, where, according to their legend, there is no sun, no moon, and no light. The man in the left middle distance is Jim White, the veteran guide. IOO to 200 feet wide, with a ceiling which at some points is nearly 300 feet high. Each morning we descended into the Stygian darkness, and by the uncertain light of lanterns picked our way over and around and between great blocks of rocks, working our way downward to Shinav's Wigwam, 830 feet beneath the surface, where the highly decorated parts of the cavern begin. The chambers previously explored were used as points of departure for new discoveries. Tom Sawyer was emulated in the use of kite strings, and in time we had an elaborate system of avenues, with white twine markers all leading to the exit. If one became confused and uncertain as to direction, he followed the twine and soon came to the main trail. Amid unearthly scenes, I not infrequently lost my sense of direction and I found myself confused in places where I |