Geology and Topography of Western New York. 103 



been the escarpment. In either case, the ravine could not have 

 been formed. 



But let the reader suppose the river flowing nearly on a level 

 with its banks ; the high prominences, A, B, C, directing the 

 course of its current, and the less elevated bank, near the ravine, 

 flooded at high tide. Let him imagine such a tidal wave as the 

 Bore, or even an ordinary flow of a few feet rise, meeting the 

 current of the river at this place, and he will readily perceive, 

 that both currents would be deflected towards the ravine, which, 

 as the elevation advanced, would be left dry at its upper extrem- 

 ity, and new portions of its rocky bed exposed to the watery 

 friction. When the bed of the river at the whirlpool had sunk 

 below the limestone strata, we may suppose the inclined plane, 

 to which I have alluded, and of which the present rapids formed 

 the upper extremity, had attained its greatest extent. The more 

 rapid disintegration of the shale would then undermine these 

 harder strata, and the work of recession commence ; but whether 

 at, or above the whirlpool, I have no data on which to form an 

 opinion ; certainly not below, however. 



There are other indications, further down the river, which 

 strongly corroborate these views. The indent on the American 

 side, called the Devil's Hole, is a notch, embracing about two 

 acres ; and to those who have not seen the place, its name, per- 

 haps, may convey some idea of its gloomy and forbidding aspect. 

 It is difiicult to account for the excavation of this notch on any 

 supposition but that of a force applied in the direction of the 

 river from below. By inspecting the wood cut, it will be per- 

 ceived, that it is but the continuation of the gorge ; and this 

 strikes the beholder with peculiar force when standing on the 

 point E, and looking down the river. The high bank, also, on 

 the opposite shore, marked D, occupies a position well calculated 

 to deflect the tidal wave directly into this notch. Bloody Run, 

 which is laid down as entering the river through this chasm, 

 drains, but a few hundred acres, and is so situated, that a branch 

 of the river could never have flowed through its channel ; were 

 it not so, the thick bed of clay and gravel, which occupies the sur- 

 face to within a few feet of the precipice, would be equaUy con- 

 clusive against the supposition. Its bed is perfectly dry, except 

 during wet seasons of the year ; and it cannot be supposed to have 

 done much towards this gigantic work of excavation. The name 



