Travelers' Original Accounts Since 1840 



the vertical face of the cliff. This brings you to the second slope 1854 

 of debris, and from this point you can get to either fall. . . . erguson 



We clambered along towards the Great-fall with some diffi- 

 culty, owing to a mass of the bank above having slipped, and 

 obstructed the way with mud and stones. We went as far as 

 the spray would permit us to go, and got down to the edge of 

 the water. It was terrific to look up. The overhanging cliffs 

 of Goat-island were above our heads. In front, between us and 

 the sky, the azure water, twenty feet and more in depth, gliding 

 over the fall, and then beat up into white spray, and surging 

 past our feet like an agitated sea of milk. The grandeur of the 

 scene is enhanced, I think, from this point of view, by the huge 

 masses of rocks, hurled down by the waters, and lying in con- 

 fused heaps below. They are not seen from either side, because 

 the clouds of spray hide them; their huge black outlines dimly 

 visible through the surf, which they themselves create from the 

 water dashing on them, add to the feeling of terrific power with 

 which we are impressed in gazing on this scene. Here, too, we 

 were alone — for few ventured where we went — and this 

 added to the pleasure of the sight. Elsewhere there were crowds. 

 But down here I saw but one hardy individual besides 

 ourselves; and it was Nature in all her undisturbed magnificence. 



• • • • • 



Above all for beauty, were the falls by moonlight. At ten, 

 it was reflected so as to light up all the water like silver; and 

 as the wavelets rushed and boiled up, the edges were tipped with 

 the flitting sheen, like stars. Now, at twelve, the starry appear- 

 ances are gone, and the column of spray and the entire edge 

 of the fall are lit up. 



The view of the falls this evening, from Table-rock, impressed 

 me most. It is from this point that there is the best view of 

 the immense sweep of the Horseshoe-fall. Once more we have 

 experienced that Niagara is to be felt and remembered, not 



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