Travelers' Original Accounts Since 1840 



an eternal sacrifice from the depth of the water toward heaven. 1850 

 The Lord of heaven saw it, and His spirit embraced the spirit remer 

 of Nature with rainbows of light, with kisses of brilliant fire in 

 an eternal betrothal. 



Thus was it in the morning of the earth's life. Thus we 

 behold it to this day. Still we behold to-day the spirit of nature 

 ascend from Niagara toward heaven with the offering of its 

 life, as an unspoken yearning and song of praise ; and still, to-day 

 it is embraced by the light and flames of heaven, as by divine 

 love. 



Niagara is the betrothal of earth's life 



With the heavenly life. 



That has Niagara told me to-day. 



And now can I leave Niagara. She has 



Told me her word of primeval being. 



September 10th, in the morning. ... I have not told 

 you about the different scenes of life at Niagara, of the steam- 

 boat, the " Maid of the Mist," which advances up to the very 

 fall till it is wetted with its spray, and then only turns back; nor 

 of my botanical rambles around Iris island; nor of the Indians 

 whom one yet meets roaming about here; nor of the great iron 

 bridge which, strong and light at the same time, has been thrown 

 across the stream a little below the fall; nor of many other 

 remarkable things here; but all these are petty in comparison 

 with that great waterfall, and that has been to me the essential 

 thing. The Indians who live around Niagara belong to the 

 Seneca tribe. As this is the season when the men are all out 

 on their hunting grounds, I saw merely some squaws, who offered 

 their work for sale. This consists of embroidery done by hand, 

 of flowers and animals, drawn and finished in a childish manner, 

 but yet well done with dyed fibre of porcupine quills, small mats, 

 baskets, moccasins, and children's rattles, made of a fragrant kind 

 of grass. There are many shops around here full of their work, 

 which is sold at a high price. 



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