354 GEOLOGICAL APPEARANCES 



limestone incrusts it, west of the Oneida reservation, in 

 the town of Sullivan. And it probably extends under 

 the calcarious strata quite to Niagara river, and an un- 

 known distance into Canada. At the former place, the 

 impetuous action of the water has exposed its deep stra- 

 tification. Shistic rock abounds in the region between 

 the Hudson and the Mohawk ; for at Ballstown, some of 

 the branches of the Kayaderossras have washed the strata 

 bare. And the banks of the St. Lawrence from Quebec 

 to Kingston on Lake Ontario, demonstrate the prevalence 

 of the slate as the extensive substratum in all that tract of 

 country. 



The rocks which press the layers of friable shistus at 

 Niagara, are limestone. They are disposed horizontally, 

 and are of the flat or tabular form. Their strength and 

 compactness enables them to overhang the banks, after 

 their foundation of brittle slate has been removed. One 

 of the most prominent and durable of these strata is the 

 table-rock. This is much frequented as a favourable spot 

 for observing the magnificent scenery from above. While 

 it lasts, it is worthy of being resorted to, for the advan- 

 tages of the prospect it affords. And it may be regretted, 

 that it will be spoiled whenever the slate beneath shall be 

 so far worn away as to render the incumbent strata of 

 calcarious matter incapable of supporting their own 

 weight. The projecting portions will break off, and de- 

 scend by their gravity to the subjacent mass of ruins* 

 The fear of danger to a spectator standing upon such a 

 ponderous shelf, and surveying his situation when above, 

 is not surpassed by the solemn apprehension he expe- 

 riences from its imminent and awful aspect when below. 



In these calcarious strata, the carbonate of lime pre- 

 dominates. This, however, is not a mere mixture of 



