IN THE PACIFIC. 299 



the place is the crowd of touters, car-drivers 

 and vagabonds of every degree who throng 

 the tourist at all points. "Whilst contem- 

 plating some magnificent view, a scoundrel 

 appears and shouts in one's ear, " Take yer to 

 the rapids for half a dollar ! " One gets 

 cheated at every turn. After being swindled 

 on the American side, we endeavoured to 

 escape by crossing over to the Canadian, 

 where we were fleeced in the most systematic, 

 though not so objectionable a manner. We 

 were induced to go to the top of a house, to 

 see the best view of the Falls, " free of 

 charge." This was all very well, but on 

 descending we were hustled into a side room, 

 surrounded by a bevy of pretty girls, and not 

 allowed to depart until we had invested in a 

 heap of trash, in the shape of agate earrings, 

 necklaces and brooches, which could be bought 

 at any seaside watering-place for half the 

 money. To add insult to injury, we were 

 expected to pay duty on our purchases on 

 re-crossing to the American shore. The bridge- 



