Niagara Falls 

 1753 of Niagara, which then empties into Lake Ontario near Fort 



Severance Niagara. 



The approaches to this fall appear inaccessible, especially on 

 the south side where we were, and present from both sides a rock 

 covered with bushes, which grow naturally in the crevices. It 

 is impossible when near it to make speaking heard, unless very 

 near to the ears. After having well examined this fall from 

 above, I proposed to the two persons who had accompanied me 

 to go down below. They opposed the difficulty of getting there, 

 there being neither road, nor path, nor security, and that the 

 undertaking was perilous and rash to go there by the bushes, 

 which appeared too weak to sustain us, or by the roots which 

 were not strong, having only hold in the joints of the rock. 

 These reasons, all of force as it appeared to me, did not prevent 

 me from persisting in my curiosity. I resolved then to expose 

 myself alone and presently I began to descend with the intention 

 of making sure of the branches which I encountered on my way ; 

 descending backwards, so that I would not let go one after 

 another, until I had seized others of the same firmness. 



I was about an hour in getting down, not without commend- 

 ing myself to Providence, for 1 perceived the rashness of my 

 undertaking, but I had to finish as much from pride as from 

 curiosity. Finally, I came to the bottom, at about twenty toises 

 from the foot of the fall, when even at that distance, did not 

 prevent me from being drenched by the rain-like spray which 

 the fall made. I advanced still nearer. I passed over a fine 

 shingle of flat rock, which led me under the sheet of falling 

 water. It was then that I was very much more drenched and felt 

 the trembling of the rocks caused by the fall of water, which made 

 me hesitate whether I ought to go on or retreat. However, 

 reflecting that this trembling must be the same always, I resolved 

 to go forward, and after having made thirty steps more I found 

 myself in a sort of cavern, formed in the rocks, in the midst of 

 which ran the sheets of water from crevices at several points, 

 which made cascades, agreeable and amusing enough if the rain 



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