Niagara Falls 



1800 Vain, however, was my every effort to get under the arch of the 

 Cataract: having heard of the success of others, I did not easily 

 relinquish the attempt. . . . Success here appeared to me 

 physically impossible; the air rushed from under the arch with 

 so much violence, that I with difficulty kept my feet; and so 

 loaded was it with spray and vapour, that it was with much more 

 difficulty I drew my breath. . . . 



I met with a dead Snake near the Falls, and in scrambling over 

 the rocks, started a Racoon. On my return I met four frolic- 

 some girls, and two men and four boys fishing ; so that it appears 

 that the Sunday, even in this remote part of the world, if not 

 kept as a holy day, is at least considered as a holiday. One of 

 the men stood like Patience on a Rock, poising a spear, and 

 expecting a Sturgeon; — the boys, with far humbler views, were 

 content to catch Pickerel and Cat-fish. Salmon come up to the 

 foot of the Falls. 



• • • • • 



I gathered a specimen of the Black or Under Rock, another 

 of the Superficial or Upper Rock, also, some Spar, and a sub- 

 stance very soft, and as white as snow, which, rather than be at a 

 loss for a name, the fisherman told me was congealed spray! I 

 now attempted to explore the shore below Mrs. Simcoe's Ladder, 

 but after scrambling over a few rocks, I found the River ran close 

 in with the Cliffs, and consequently was obliged to return. 



Monday, August 25th. ... the greater my intimacy 

 with the Falls, the more they won upon my affections. 



I was now going to take leave, and perhaps for ever, of an 

 object, to attain a sight of which, had been a principal design 

 of mine for many years; — an object that for these last four days 



had been " my ever new delight! " — an object that J. O. , 



Esq. a gentleman of the Law in New York, was this Summer 

 induced to visit, who, to have a better view of the Falls, would 

 not deign to dismount, but at first sight, exclaimed, " Is that all? " 

 and rode on ! — So true is that trite saying, " Many men — 

 many minds! " 



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