Niagara Falls. 173 



It descends in foam, and from this moment its agony com- 

 mences. t For three miles it tosses and resists, and racked 

 at every step by sharper rocks and increased rapidity, its 

 unwilling and choked waves fly back, to be again precipi- 

 tated onward with great force against the Canadian side, 

 where they are driven back by the high rocky bank ; for at 

 this point the river suddenly turns to a course east of north, 

 and immediately afterwards the % water is hurled down a 

 perpendicular height of 160 feet into a terrific gulf, 16 miles 

 above Lake Ontario. Goat Island divides the cataract into 

 two unequal falls, called respectively the American Falls 

 and the Canadian or Horse-shoe Falls. Its exact dimensions 

 can be only conjectural ; the American Fall is estimated at 

 164 feet, the Horse-shoe 150 feet. The latter is supposed 

 to be 1,900 feet across, the former 908. The Canadian 

 cataract rolls over a precipice projecting about fifty feet 

 beyond its base, and the falling waters form a curve, between 

 which and the rock itself persons may proceed thirty or forty 

 yards. The Rapids above the Falls are far from being 

 the least interesting feature of the scenery. There is a 

 violence and a power in their foaming career which is seen 

 in no other phenomenon of the same class. Standing on the 

 bridge which connects Goat Island with the mainland, the 

 throwing over of which was a work of noble daring, and 

 looking up towards Lake Erie, the leaping crests of the 

 rapids form the horizon, and it seems like a battle charge of 

 tempestuous waves, animated and infuriated against the sky. 

 No one who has not seen this spectacle can conceive with 

 what force the swift and overwhelming waters are flung 

 upwards. Nearer the plunge of the Fall the rapids become 

 still more agitated, and it is almost impossible for the spec- 

 tator to rid himself of the idea that they are conscious of the 

 abyss to which they are hurrying, and struggle back in the 

 very extremity of horror. But as they touch the emerald 

 arch, like the calm that follows the conviction of inevitable 



