Yes on the first, yes-kinda on the second...there wasn't so much "clues" as "talk to the guy in the far southwest cave and he'll give you the directions to get through."

( Specifically, "North, West, South, West through the Forest of Maze." Except in all caps due to the game using a monocase font. ...Like I said before, the more trivial and unimportant a bit of info is, the better I remember it. Doesn't hurt that my mom and I both love that game.)