202 



NIAGARA PALLS. 



to ride to it on horseback, and I saw a man who 

 had planted potatoes on it in former times. 1 

 observed trees on it, on which are inscribed the 

 names of visitors as far back as 1769. A skele- 

 ton was found buried in a grave, and indications 

 of a canoe being made about 40 years ago were 

 also observed. I heard the singing of locusts and 

 birds. It is covered with large trees, and the soil 

 is uncommonly good, being composed of a fine 

 vegetable mould. This island was formerly the 

 place where eagles erected their aeries, as well 

 on account of its seclusion, as its propinquity to 

 the carcases below the falls. Some years ago a 

 large deer was seen for two or three weeks wading 

 a short distance into the rapids from this island, 

 and retreating. He had been drifted down from 

 above, and not knowing the safe passage to the 

 shore., he no doubt was carried over the falls. 

 Volney says that he found at the bottom of the 

 precipice the carcases of some deer, and wild 

 hoars, which the current had hurried down the 

 cataract on their attempting to swim across the 

 river above it. As there are no wild boars in 

 ihis country, this shows how inattentive the most 

 observing travellers are to objects of natural his- 

 tory. It is generally supposed that every animal 

 is deprived of life which passes over the falls, but 

 this is a mistake. Tame geese frequently escape : 



