Description of the Falls of Niagara. 43 



between them. At the place of descent, we were 

 nearly opposite to the Lesser-Falls, the waters of 

 which rush down in a direction nearly parallel with 

 the beach we walked along. They are again divided 

 into two very unequal falls, the least of which pro- 

 bably discharges more water than the great fall of the 

 Rhine in Switzerland, which is the most famous 

 water-fall in Europe. 



We now approached the Great-Fall, which dis- 

 charges at least four times as much water as the two 

 lesser ones together. It is nearly in the form of a 

 horse- shoe. We observed below, what is impercep- 

 tible above, that this fall has not throughout the same 

 pitch. In the hollow of it, where the greatest body 

 of water descends, the rocks seem to be considerably 

 worn away. We cannot, however, subscribe to the 

 opinion, that the cataract was formerly at the northern 

 side of the slope, near the Landing; and that from the 

 great length of time, the quantity of water, and the 

 distance which it falls, the solid stone is worn away, 

 for about nine miles up the river, towards Lake 

 Erie. 



This notion seems extravagant. The island which 

 separates the Falls is a solid rock, and so high, that 

 the river can never have run over it. Its bank to- 

 wards the Falls runs in the same direction with them, 

 and at the same time does not project beyond them, 

 which would, surely, be the case, if the whole body 

 of rocks, from which the wau-r descends, was fast 

 wearing away. The situation and appearance of the 



