Niagara Falls 

 1853 eating-booths and museums, show that refined taste has not much 



King.ton tQ do with the matter> 



The first bridge ends in a small island decorated with a 

 pavilion, containing Indian curiosities, walking-canes, and refresh- 

 ments, as also the residence of the custos of Goat Island, to whom, 

 by payment of one shilling for each person, we were made 

 free of the insular territory, the property of a private individual, 

 during our stay in the neighbourhood. Behind the pavilion a little 

 wooden bridge led us to another small island, on which grow 

 several writhing twisted cedars. Hence the rapids appeared even 

 to greater advantage than from the bridge; and more terror- 

 inspiring, for, rushing towards us, they seemed about to sweep the 

 plot of ground and our own precious persons to destruction over 

 the Falls. Another stout plank-bridge, passable also for car- 

 riages, carried us over the rapids to Goat Island; in which, by 

 keeping to the right, we discovered every point of interest without 

 difficulty, and free from the tiresome race of guides. 



We followed the shore of the island some way, bordering the 

 rapids, till, descending a flight of steps in the bank, we found our- 

 selves close to Young America [the Central Fall], with a 

 magnificent view down the river, terminated by the suspension- 

 bridge, including the larger American fall on one side, and the 

 Clifton House, an object of no little interest, on the other. 



Crossing Young America by a wide plank, we stood on a 

 little island, or rock, not ten yards in circumference, with a roar- 

 ing cataract on either side of it. As we saw the foaming water 

 rushing round us, it required no little mental exertion to recollect 

 that, as probably the rock on which we rested had there remained 

 for centuries, we need be under no immediate alarm of its being 

 hurled down over the cliff before we could escape from it. 



Returning up the steps, we continued along the top of the 

 cliffs till we came before a most picturesque view of the Horseshoe 



1084 



