28 Whirlpool and Rapids below the Falls of Niagara. 
at times into blue, with yellowish and greenish veins, the latter due 
to the foam which seems as if imbedded as it streams down in long 
wavy lines. This solid representation of water, gave an addi- 
tional novelty to the scene. About one mile from the falls the 
sides of the ravine gradually converge, diminishing of course the 
width of the river. Half a mile still lower,* following along by 
the edge of the precipice, the stream takes a gentle turn to the 
left. ‘The water on each side is seen to ripple ; then commences 
a chain of waves preceded by deep furrows, which converge to a 
point in the middle of the river, indicating not only the rapidity 
of the current, but also the upheaving of the waters, rising, as 
has been ascertained by measurement, eleven feet above the level 
at the sides; after this, it is broken into foam and spray, and 
dashing on with impetuous fury, pursues its wild career for about 
a mile, then rushes with the swiftness and violence of an ava- 
circl 
in gentle undulations, as if gathering strength for its last conflict 
not many feet below the surface of the water, contracting very 
considerably the space through which the waters apparently es- 
cape. ‘I'he curved line, DH, indicates this projection. ‘There 
was so ing impressively grand in the whole scene as contem- 
plated from this point. The drainage of four great lakes cover 
ing an area of about 135,000 square miles, escapes at the northern 
extremity of Lake Erie through a channel, (as stated by Mr. Allen, 
rom measurements by Mr. E. R. Blackwell,) seventeen hundred 
feet in width, thirty-two feet in depth, running at the rate of six 
miles an hour, equal to 22,440,000 cubit feet, weighing 701,250 
tons, flowing every minute ;;—here the whole is confined to @ 
breadth not exceeding two hundred and twenty-five feet! the 
distance from rock to rock, as I was informed by the proprietor 
tee eee 
* I observed a steamboat intended to ply between a landing place, which ” 
been constructed at great expense down the precipice to the water's edge, at the 
with the current. It isto be hoped the project will forever abandoned. ra 
case of accident to the machinery, there is nothing to prevent the destruction of 
boat in the rapids. 
t Am. Jour. of Sci., Vol. xlvi, p. 71. 
