Niagara Falls 



1793 when I viewed it on the opposite side; for there I was on an 

 Lincoln eminence nearly one hundred feet above the level of the water. 



When on the east side, in looking down the bank on which I 

 stood, the distance magnified exceedingly. I cannot account for 

 the deception when observing the Falls, unless it springs from 

 their length, or from our viewing them through a cloud; which 

 we always do; for the vapor constantly ascends, and has the 

 appearance of a cloud, at the distance of many miles. The 

 water falls fifty-seven feet in the distance of one mile before it 

 falls perpendicularly. It is generally believed here, that the Falls 

 were six miles lower down than what they now are, and that the 

 change has been produced by the constant operation of the water. 

 This idea led me to examine, as well as I could, the banks of the 

 river, on one side and the other; but did not discover any marks 

 of the operation of the water on the rocks. I therefore could not 

 adopt fully the opinion; and I cannot now avoid doubting the 

 truth of the observation, unless I sacrifice my reason to wild and 

 uncertain conjecture. . . . 



We returned toward evening to the house of our friend, Mr. 

 Stedman. ... In conversation with our friend Stedman, 

 who lives just on the bank of the river, respecting his keeping 

 geese and ducks so near the Falls, down which they are liable 

 to be carried with the rapid current, he said they had discovered 

 a method which prevented them from swimming far from the 

 shore, or remaining long in the water at any time, by picking off 

 from the breast all the feathers and down, a place about the 

 circumference of a dollar. 



June 26. We left our lodgings at Governor Simcoe's. . . . 

 We arrived in the evening at the Landing, where we lodged. 

 The common cherries and the currants are now ripe enough to eat. 



June 27. This day we left the Landing, and travelled to 

 Chippewa, ten miles; here we waited until our baggage could 

 be forwarded. On my way to this place I again visited the 

 Falls. I went down to what is called the Table Rock, nearly 

 on a leved with the water, where it falls in its greatest degree. 



96 



