Niagara Falls 



1765 of us except our bones would have ever got to the top of the 

 hill, undigested, if we had not luckily found our way. 



Upon the whole, our jaunt was difficult and dangerous, and 

 although a sight of the Falls from below affords great pleasure, 

 yet it is not adequate to the trouble and hazard necessary to the 

 obtaining it. 



The Falls of Niagara have been measured several times by a 

 line, let down from a rock near the top of the Falls. From the 

 best accounts I could get, I think they are about one hundred and 

 forty feet perpendicular. They are extremely grand, and are 

 well worth seeing. 



1766 



1766 Carver, Jonathan, Captain. Travels through the interior parts of 

 Carver North America, in the years 1 766, 1 767, and 1 768. Lond. : J. Walter. 



1778. Pp. 169-170. 



This Lake (Erie) discharges its waters at the northeast end, 

 into the River Niagara, which runs north and south, and is 

 about thirty-six miles in length; from whence it falls into Lake 

 Ontario. At the entrance of this river, on its eastern shore, lies 

 Fort Niagara; and, about eighteen miles further up, those re- 

 markable Falls which are esteemed one of the most extraordinary 

 productions of nature at present known. 



As these have been visited by so many travellers, and so 

 frequently described, I shall omit giving a particular descrip- 

 tion of them, and only observe, that the waters by which they 

 are supplied, after taking their rise near two thousand miles to 

 the northwest, and passing through the Lakes Superior, Mich- 

 egan, Huron, and Erie, during which they have been receiving 

 constant accumulations, at length rush down a stupendous 

 precipice of one hundred and forty feet perpendicular; and in a 

 strong rapid, that extends to the distance of eight or nine miles 

 below, fall nearly as much more: this River soon after empties 

 itself into Lake Ontario. 



The noise of these Falls might be heard an amazing way. 

 I could plainly distinguish them in a calm morning more than 



66 



