Niagara Falls. 177 



very day on which Table Rock fell, and only an hour or two 

 previous to the catastrophe, the engineer of the Victoria 

 Bridge, with several of his colleagues, was standing on the 

 spot it covered in its fall. Large masses still frequently 

 detach themselves in the spring from the projecting precipice 

 to the great danger of the traveller, unless attended by a 

 guide, who will have previously discharged a pistol shot or 

 two to loosen and bring down by the vibration of the air, 

 any mass that is detached or dangerous. From the site of 

 Table Rock, a gorgeous view lies outspread on every side. 

 Loud and voluminous as is the sound of this gigantic water- 

 fall which fills the air and ear with its ceaseless roar, there 

 is nothing harsh, discordant, or inharmonious ; the sound is 

 symphonious with the scene, full of majesty and ov-erawing 

 like the distant thunder. 



In winter the Falls present a remarkable appearance ; the 

 spray that settles on all the surrounding objects, and espe- 

 cially the trees, becomes immediately turned into a coating 

 of ice, which, in the bright sunshine, recalls some of the 

 '^Arabian Nights'' palaces, or fairy handiwork. The huge 

 massive pillars of ice also, which are formed by the continual 

 drippings, on the precipices of the river banks, look like 

 emerald shafts. No traveller who passes by here in the 

 winter should fail to view the Falls at that season. 



Of course, in such a resort for visitors as this, there are 

 any number of •" hangers-on," eager and on the look-out to 

 ease the unsuspecting traveller of his money at every turn, 

 under pretence of showing this or that ; we would strongly 

 recommend him to take no notice of any such offers, cfnd 

 for the service of guides rely on those furnished at the 

 Museum House or at the Clifton House ; and before engag- 

 ing a carriage, let him by all means stipulate as to its cost 

 beforehand. The Clifton House on the Canadian, and the 

 Elgin House on the American sides, are both first-class 

 hotels, and private lodgings can be had if preferable ; and as 



