174 Niagara Falls. 



doom, the agitation ceases, the waters pause, the foam and 

 resistance subside into a transparent stillness, and slowly 

 and solemnly the doomed water drops into the abyss. 



The best way to approach Niagara is to go upon the 

 American shore and cross at the ferry. The descent of 

 about 200 feet by the staircase brings the traveller, after 

 climbing over huge boulders, and the debris that has fallen 

 from above, directly under the shoulder and edge of the 

 American Fall, and within a few feet of the spot on which 

 the water is dashed and broken into spray — the most 

 imposing scene for a single object that he will ever have 

 witnessed. The long column of sparkling water seems, 

 as he stands near it, to descend to an immeasurable depth, 

 and the bright sea-green curve above has the appearance of 

 being let into the sky. The tremendous power of the Fall, 

 as well as the height, realizes here his utmost expectations. 

 He descends to the water's edge, and embarks in a ferry- 

 boat, which tosses like an egg-shell on the heaving and 

 convulsed water, and in a minute or two he finds himself in 

 the face of the vast line of the Falls, and then he sees with 

 surprise that he had as yet expended his admiration on but 

 a thread of Niagara, — the fractional part of its wondrous 

 volume and grandeur. The current at the ferry sets very 

 strongly down, and it is with difficulty that the boat is 

 propelled across the stream. Arrived near the opposite 

 landing, however, there is a slight counter-current, and 

 the large rocks near the shore serve as a breakwaten 

 • behind which the boat runs safely to her moorings. 



It is computed that 100,000,000 tons of water are dis- 

 charged over the precipice every hour ; and when we 

 consider that this river is the only outlet for all the waters 

 of Lakes Erie, St. Claire, Huron, Supci'lor, and Michigan, 

 some conception may be formed of the immense volume of 

 water continually precipitating itself over these Falls. Major 

 .VVarburton thus speaks of it, and his description is most 



