Niagara Falls 



1765 Mr. Pfister, a German half-pay lieutenant of the Royal 



Americans, lives at Fort Schlosser. He has made a contract 

 with General Gage, commander-in-chief, to carry all stores, bat- 

 teaux, etc., belonging to the army, in wagons over land, about 

 seven miles, the Falls of Niagara making the river of that name 

 so rapid both above and below them, that it is absolutely 

 necessary for every thing going towards Lake Erie, to be 

 carried that distance by land. Every batteau, besides those 

 belonging to the army, pays him £ 1 0, New York currency, and 

 upwards, according to their size. 



Batteaux and all heavy baggage are raised to the top of an 

 high hill on the river, by means of a capstan. 



From Fort Schlosser we went to see the Falls, which are two 

 amazing cataracts, divided by an island in the river. We were 

 inclined to go down a steep rock and view the Falls from the 

 bottom, but having no rope with us to fasten to a tree above, 

 the dangerous appearance of the precipice deterred us. 



A few days after, we crossed the river from Niagara Fort and 

 rode to the Falls, which appeared much higher and more beau- 

 tiful than from the opposite side. 



We had got a rope, and resolved by its assistance to go to the 

 bottom of the Falls; but some accident happening to the horse 

 of the man who had charge of the rope, he was obliged to stop on 

 the road, and endeavoring to overtake us, he lost his way ; so we 

 should have been a second time disappointed of the pleasure of 

 seeing the Falls from the bottom, had we not resolved to go down 

 at all events, without a rope. Before this resolution could be 

 executed, it was necessary to find out a proper place from which 

 we might make an attempt with some probability of success. 



This was no easy matter; and we examined the banks of the 

 river for at least an hour and a half before any such place could 

 be found. Nothing but the bare face of a rock was to be seen. 

 At last an opening appeared between some trees and bushes, 

 which, though dangerous to go down, seemed the most likely 

 place for our purpose of any we had seen. A council was now 



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