Travelers' Original Accounts: 1801-1840 



From a collection of mills and factories arranged along the 1821 

 American side of the rapids, denominated Grand Niagara or 

 Manchester, spreads in view the expansive bay, bounded by 

 champaigne lands. Chippewa appears at a distance, scattered 

 about the mouth of Chippewa river; Navy island and the 

 woody shores of the Grand isle, lie at a great distance on the 

 left, and opposite, upon a high bushy bank, Ontario Hotel rears 

 its white colonnades. Midway, firm among the roaring breakers, 

 is Goat or Iris-Island, to the romantic walks of which, a bridge, 

 lately rebuilt by Judge Porter, after passing over an intermediate 

 island, leads from the American shore. It was not without terror 

 that I saw the violent surges beating against the slender props 

 of this bridge, and within a stone's throw of the river leaping into 

 the yawning gulf and involving the objects beneath in dense 

 vapours. The small island across which the bridge passes, is 

 called Bath-Island, and has upon it the toll-keeper's dwelling 

 and a commodious bathing house. Parties, in summer, after 

 refreshing themselves at the intermediate island, stroll among the 

 retired groves of Iris island, where from a precipice of two hun- 

 dred feet between the two falls, an interesting view of both 

 sheets tumbling on the right-hand and left is obtained. There 

 is a beautiful seclusion. While the foot-step is led by paths, 

 among the gloomy trunks of large forest trees, one of the grandest 

 objects of nature shows, at times, white through the bushes, and 

 with its solemn roar, impels the mind to contemplation and awe. 

 Adjacent, are the other little islands, with their close planted firs 

 expanding over banks, upon which neither man or quadruped 

 has ever yet dared to step, and deform the rustic elegance of 

 nature. 



For the convenience of descending to the bottom of the falls, 

 permanent stairways have been durably fixed against the sides 

 of the precipice. From the foot of the stairs, down the slope, 

 steps are made of rough stones, with a rude banister for a support, 

 leading to a ferry-boat on the shore. The Charon of the stream, 



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