NIAGARA FALLS. 



201 



the rapids, and some years ago, an immense ma?« 

 of the rocky stratum was precipitated over, and 

 shook the country round like an earthquake, 



Ovid's description of a cataract furnishes but a 

 very imperfect idea of this wonder of nature. 



<' Estnemus iEmoniae, praerupta quod undique claudit 

 Silva : vocant Tempe. Per quae Fencus ab imo 

 Effusus Pindo spuinosis volvitur undis, 

 Dejectuque gravi teiuies agUantia fumos 

 Nubila conducit, suniniasque aspergine silvas 

 Impliuit J et sonitu plus quam vicina fatigat." 



This cataract is a great manufactory of clouds 

 and rainbows, and it serves as a barometer as far 

 as Buffalo. If liie spray spreads from the north 

 it is a sign of a northerly wind. — A south east 

 wind indicates rain. 



Goat Island derives its name from its being 

 appropriated to goats by Mr. Stedman, the form- 

 er possessor of Fort Schlosser. It now belongs 

 to individuals, and is connected with the right 

 bank of the river by bridges. It was formerly 

 supposed that it would make an escellent place 

 for a state penitentiary on account of the imprac- 

 ticability of passing from it previous to die erec- 

 tion of the bridges : but this is a mistake. It can 

 be easily reached by a canoe from the place 

 where the rapids separate at the the head of the 

 island, l^ut it is difficult to retire. Stedman used 



