Niagara Falls 



1768 back again, with great safety, keeping dexterously between the 

 two streams that rush on each side, to the Falls with the rapidity 

 of a cannon ball. Indeed the risque is great, for mistaking the 

 Land-marks, breaking a setting pole or paddle, or even missing 

 a single stroke, and all is lost. Faith nor all her works will 

 protect you from perdition. But curiosity was great and I grati- 

 fied it, though it add nothing particular to the view, except the 

 precipitation of the waters down to the rapids, on each side, 

 amid its huge rocks and a number of broken islets. 



I had many views of these mighty water-falls, and was aston- 

 ished and delighted at each; but the last, from the western side 

 of the river exceeds all imagination. There are here three 

 views, fully before both Falls (measured 136 feet high) and 

 opposite to Stedman's Island, a precipice of about 400 yards in 

 length and equal height with the Falls, the tall wood on the 

 top of which having a good effect. 



I first arrived at the brow of a high hill, over the upper bed 

 of the river, the western branch of which, seen to Navy Island, 

 about two miles up affords great diversity. The wide seemingly 

 still water surrounded above, and on all sides, by a tall forest, 

 then rolling an immense body down the rapids, falling tre- 

 mendous, like a vast sheet of melted lead, over the middle part 

 of a half circle, the two ends of which flowering off in thinner 

 sheets, the eastern fall of irregular appearance, dazzling the 

 imagination with streaming beauties of various forms. The 

 precipice and wood between the two, altogether terrify the mind, 

 while it is charmed into rapture ; for great as the idea was which 

 had led me so many hundred leagues, and heightened by the 

 imperfect views taken before, it so far exceeded my most sanguine 

 expectations, that my imagination had not immediate scope for it, 

 and I felt distressed till my mind had expanded itself to the 

 immensity and variety of the objects that struck it all at once. 



I next went to the foot of this hill, which is level with the 

 upper bed of the river, and all around was amazed and delighted. 

 But new expressions are wanting. — To go on then. — From 



68 



