94 R. Bakewell on the Falls of Niagara. 
I made another sketch of the same scene, it had become much 
larger, its longest diameter being about north and south. In 
1856 the bushes had become young trees. Having nothing to 
compare it with, it is difficult to get a correct idea of the size 
of this new formed island. Judging from my sketch, I should 
say that it was about 100 yards long and 20 wide. If correct, 
the island of 1856 is five times the size of the gravel patch of 
1829. My object in being so particular, is to show that there 1s 
a gradual and perceptible change going on, drawing the waters 
from the en to the Americar side, or rather, to the centre 
of the Fall. To this it may be replied that the increase was 
simply by deposition. The difficulty in this case would be to 
f then, in the short period of twenty-seven years, so much 
has been done to change the character of the Falls, is: it reason- 
able to suppose that they present now the same appearance as 
they did in Father Hennepin’s day ? 
I would make an inquiry of those skilled in acoustics, why it 
is that the immense body of water which pours over the centre 
of the Canada Falls is comparatively so noiseless, On thinking © 
of this when last at the Falls, I was more deeply impressed than 
ever with the fact. We hear the rush and turbulent noise of 
the waters of the rapids and of the American Falls, and the 
two sides of the Canada Fall. But that low, heavy, muffl 
noise from the act of breaking the surface of the water; but 
when this was once broken, and the descending flood was 12. 
