Niagara Falls 

 1832 This violent transition from level shores to a deep ravine, 



Trollope •,. | . . , 



seems to indicate some great convulsion as its cause, and when 

 I heard of a burning spring close by, I fancied the volcanic 

 power still at work, and that the wonders of the region might 

 yet increase. 



We passed four delightful days of excitement and fatigue; 

 we drenched ourselves in spray; we cut our feet on the rocks; 

 we blistered our faces in the sun; we looked up the cataract 

 and down the cataract; we perched ourselves on every pin- 

 nacle we could find; we dipped our fingers in the flood at a 

 few yards' distance from its thundering fall; in short, we strove 

 to fill as many niches of memory with Niagara as possible; and 

 I think the images will be within the power of recall for ever. 



We met many groups of tourists in our walks, chiefly 

 American, but they were, or we fancied they were, but little 

 observant of the wonders around them. 



The company at the hotel changed almost every day. Many 

 parties arrived in the morning, walked to the falls, returned to 

 the hotel to dinner, and departed by the coach immediately after 

 it. Many groups were indescribably whimsical, both in appear- 

 ance and manner. Now and then a first-rate dandy shot in 

 among us, like a falling star. 



Fortunately for our enjoyment, the solemn character of the 

 scene was but little broken in upon by these gentry. Every 

 one who comes to Forsythe's hotel (except Mrs. Bogle Corbet), 

 walks to the shantee, writes their name in a book which is kept 

 there, and, for the most part, descends in a spiral staircase 

 which leads from the little platform before it to the rock 

 below. Here they find another shantee, but a few yards from 

 the entrance of that wondrous cavern which is formed by the 

 falling flood on one side, and by the mighty rock over which 

 it pours, on the other. To this frail shelter from the wild uproar, 



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