THE TIDES OF THE BAY OF FUNDY—MURPHY. 49 
as you ascend the bay, until at Chiegnecto they attain the height 
of fifty feet. 
We can walk over the sands or mud flats of the Bay of 
Fundy, now dry, but in a few hours after comes a rushing torrent, a 
few hours more and the largest ship afloat could sail over the 
same ground which we occupied six hours ago. Again the same 
body of water is drawn back impulsively to again swing forward, 
and thus maintain its vibrating, rocking motion 
To one unaccustomed to the approach of the great waves 
that daily inundate the bays and basins at the head of the Bay 
of Fundy, and pour their waters over the adjacent marshes and 
flats, their first observance is strikingly impressive. I had fre- 
quently observed rapid currents rush upwards against streams 
from the tides of the English Channel, and considered my experi- 
ence justified a passive recognition of what I might expect from 
the phenomenal bore of this bay ; but no,—my conceptions were 
very vague with regard to their relative magnitude and char- 
acteristics. Generally during spring tides, at the periods of the 
vernal and autumnal equinoxes, the greatest intensity being in 
the autumn season, attain their utmost pitch. 
My first experience in Nova Scotia occurred near the mouth 
of the Maccan River, a small stream, emptying into Cumberland 
Basin. I was engaged at the time of low tide examining the 
foundations of the pier of a bridge, and owing to a bend in the 
river further down, did not notice its advent, although heralded 
by a desultory murmur as if proceeding from a distant waterfall. 
My more experienced companion gave the alarm, and led the way 
in doing so. To seek higher and drier ground was, of necessity, 
the work of the next two or three minutes; the water followed 
close on my heels until I got well up, and before I could pause, look 
back and take in the aspect. The bore had then passed on, up- 
wards, leaving a veritable newly evolved stream of about fifteen 
feet deep, following more placidly in its wake; and all this within 
five minutes. The flood kept still rising, but without further 
indication of disturbance, until the set of the ebb tide about two 
hours afterwards. The Maccan is here narrow and shoal, and 
may be said to be favorable to the rapid growth of the ogre or 
