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 waier, 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- 

 lanche into a wide circular area of one hundred and twenty acres 

 in extent. Then, suddenly, as by an unseen power, it is calmed 

 down, and in silence sweeps round in eddying circles ; these 

 circles glide into curves which swell round this vast amphitheatre 

 in gentle undulations, as if gathering strength for its last conflict 

 through the narrow portal which leads to its oblivion in the wa- 

 ters of Ontario. 



While standing on the precipice at the Summer-house, (B, 

 fig. 1,) which overlooks the whirlpool, my attention was partic- 

 ularly directed to the place where the waters enter the whirlpool, 

 where I could distinctly see the rocks projecting for a considerable 

 distance from the Canada side towards the centre of the current, 

 not naany feet below the surface of the water, contracting very 

 considerably the space through which the waters apparently es- 

 cape. 1 he curved line, DE, indicates this projection. There 

 was something impressively grand in the whole scene as contem- 

 plated from this point. The drainage of four great lakes cover- 

 an area of about 135,000 square miles, escapes at the northern 



in 



Mr 



from measurements by Mr. E. R. Black well,) seventeen hundred 

 teet 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 ;f— here the whole is confined to a 

 breadth not exceeding two hundred and twenty-five feet ! the 

 distance from rock to rock, as 1 was infnrm^rl v.^ *k q ™~™; Q tnr 



1 observed a steamboat intended to ply between a landing place, which bad 

 neen constructed at great expense down the precipice to the water's edge, at the 

 base of the falls, &c. ; but on trial, the engine had not power sufficient to contend 

 the current. It is to be hoped the project will be forever abandoned. In 



case ot accident to the machinery, there is nothing to prevent the destruction of the 

 boat in the rapids. 



t Am. Jour, of Sci., Vol. ihri, p. 71. 



