jlccouni of the Country near the American Lakes. 541 



part of this globe muft have experienced at fome remote period of antiquity ; and fecondly, 

 that thofe naturalifts are deceived, who fuppofe that the ftrata were originally parallel to 

 the axis of the earth. 



Before I conclude my obfervations on this fubje£l, I (hall take the liberty of adding an 

 account of the falls of Niagara, which are in fome meafure conne£led with the horizontal 

 difpofition of the ftrata in the Weftern and North Weftern Country. 



This ftupendous cataraft of water infinitely excels all other natural curioGties of th? 

 country, and exhibits a fpeclacle fcarce equalled in grandeur by any objedl in the phyfical 

 world. Lake Erie is fituaced upon one of thofe horizontal ftrata in a region elevated about 

 three hundred feet above the country which contains Lake Ontario. The defcent which 

 feparates the two countries, is in fome places almoft perpendicular, and the immenfc 

 declivity formed by thefe ftrata occafions both the cataraQ of Niagara and the great fails of 

 Chenefeco. This remarkable precipice generally runs in a fouth-weftern direction from a 

 place near the Bay of Toronto on the northern fide of Ontario, round the weftern angle of 

 the lake ; from thence it continues its courfe generally in an eaftern direftion, crofling 

 the ftrait of Niagara and the Chenefeco river, till it is loft in the country towards the 

 Seneca Lake< 



The waters of this catara£l formerly fell from the northern fide of the flope, near the 

 landing place j but the a£tion of fuch a tremendous column of water falling from fuch an 

 eminence, through a long fucceflion of ages, has worn away the folid ftone for the diftancc 

 of fevcn miles, and formed an immenfe chafm which cannot be approached without horror. 

 In afcending the road from the landing to Fort Slaufer the eye is continually engaged in the 

 contemplation of the awful, and romantic fcencs which prefent themfelves, till the tranf- 

 cendent magnificence of the falls is difplayed to view, the imagination is then forcibly ar- 

 refted, and the fpeftator is loft in filent admiration ! down this awful chafm, the waters 

 are precipitated with amazing velocity after they make the great pitch, and fuch a vaft 

 torrent of falling water communicates a tremulous motion to the earth, which is fenfibly 

 . felt for fome poles round, and produces a found which is frequently heard at the diftance 

 of twenty miles. Many wild beafts that attempt to crofs the rapids above this great ca- 

 taraft, are deftroyed ; and if geefe or ducks inadvertently alight in thefe rapids, they are 

 incapable of rifing upon the wing again, and are hurried on to inevitable deftru£lion. 



The great height of the banks renders the defcent into the chafm extremely difficult j 

 but a perfon after having defcended may eafily proceed to the bafe of the falls, and a number 

 of perfons may walk in perfedl fafety a confiderable diftance between the precipice and the 

 defcending torrent, where converfation is not much interrupted by the noife, which is not 

 fo great here as at fome diftance. A vapour or fpray of confiderable denfity, refembling a 

 cloud, continually afcends, in which a rainbow is always feen when the fun fliines, and the 

 pofition of the fpeflator is favourable. In the winter this fpray attaches itfelf to the trees, 

 where it is congealed in fuch quantities as to diveft thejn of their fmaller branches> and 

 Vol. III. — March 1800. 4 A produce* 



