Niagara Falls 



1818 rately, and sometimes mingling their vapours. These were clouds 

 of spray rising above the falls; perfectly conspicuous to the 

 naked eye at a distance of twenty miles. 



The western bank of the Niagara has been settled for a con- 

 siderable period; the land is of excellent quality, and a great 

 part of it cleared and cultivated. It will no doubt be a long time, 

 ere the whole landscape assume that unpicturesque common- 

 place, which is produced by ploughing and harrowing, levelling 

 and enclosing; many an axe must be raised, and many a lofty 

 pine-tree measure its length upon the ground, ere waving grain 

 displace all the shaggy forests which stretch around. Time 

 however, that silent but most innovating of reformers, is working 

 wondrous changes on this western world; and his operations are 

 nowhere so apparent as on the banks of navigable streams. In 

 a few years, perhaps, the noise of the cataracts may be drowned 

 in the busy hum of men; and the smoke of clustering towns, or 

 more crowded cities, obscure on the horizon the clouds of spray, 

 which at present tower without a rival. 



Nearly opposite the middle of Goat Island the channel of 

 the rapid suddenly widens, encroaching with a considerable curva- 

 ture upon the bank, as if a portion of the water sought to shun 

 by a circuitous route its inevitable destiny. In this little bay, if 

 it may be so called, are a number of islets covered with wood, 

 and to all appearance securely anchored amid the brawling tor- 

 rent; but before approaching them, you discover with surprise 

 that the daring foot of man has ventured to descend the steep 

 bank, to erect a cluster of mills, which dip their water wheels 

 into the impetuous rapid. 



In my first visit I was quite alone, and piloted my way from 

 the tavern to the edge of the precipitous bank, by the directions 

 which I received from the landlord. Crossing a field or two, 

 which slope from the road towards the river, a little below the 

 falls, I reached a small distillery, past which a kind of foot path 



148 



