Niagara Falls 



1830 retreated from the position with some hesitation and reluctance. I 

 Fowier was dumb with high and enthralling amazement. 



From the Table Rock I next passed under the fall. The 

 descent is by means of a spiral stair-way which is inclosed, and on 

 arriving at the bottom of which I had to doff every vestige of 

 clothing, and was furnished by the guide, who was about to 

 accompany me, with a waterproof garment in lieu of it: the 

 necessity of this exchange I full soon discovered, being com- 

 pletely enveloped in a cloud of spray. The path is a very 

 rugged one, under awfully overhanging rocks, and as we 

 approached nearer and nearer, the roar, the tumult, and the agita- 

 tion which encompassed us " around, above, below," was appall- 

 ingly, grandly terrific. The violence and density of the spray, 

 too, increased at every step, so that we were obliged to carry our 

 heads down to respire at all; and in one part, where there is a 

 considerable projection, it was driven against us with such almost 

 incredible vehemence that it required no trifling effort to keep on 

 our feet. I can compare it to nothing better than the most violent 

 of thunder rain, which, instead of falling vertically, is propelled 

 horizontally, with the fury of a tornado. The walking, too, is 

 rendered more difficult by the number of small eels, which are 

 twisting about under your feet in all directions. At length, how- 

 ever, staggering and stumbling on, we reached what is called 

 Termination Roc}?, 1 53 feet from the commencement of the 

 volume of water, and beyond which there is no proceeding, the 

 descent being nearly perpendicular. Few, I believe, evince any 

 inclination to explore thus far, though tales are told of persons 

 taking a meal underneath, and so on ; which, for the mere say-so, 

 certainly might be done, as any one, if so disposed, might treat 

 himself to dinner in a shower-bath, nor fear having to complain 

 of a dry morsel; but be assured the inconvenience of such a cere- 

 mony under the Falls of Niagara would, if possible, be an hun- 

 dred-fold greater. After remaining some time seated on the 

 farthest projection of rock, contemplating the wildly majestic and 



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