Travelers' Original Accounts Since 1840 



them, where the St. Lawrence flows into the lake. Three con- 1865 

 siderable actions and various small engagements have taken place Russe11 

 on the Canadian side of the river, all of which were character- 

 ized by great obstinacy and much bloodshed. Let us consider 

 them, and see what can or ought to be done in order to guard 

 the tempting bank which offers such an excellent base of opera- 

 tions for future hostile occupation. 



• • • • • 



This yawning gap is barrier enough between the two countries 

 should they ever, unhappily, become belligerent, but the banks 

 can be commanded by either; and in case of war the bridge 

 would no doubt be sacrificed by one or other, as well as the 

 grander structure at Montreal would be, without some special 

 covenant. 



When still a mile and a half away, a whirling pillar of a 

 leaden gray colour, with wreaths of a lighter silvery hue playing 

 round it, which rose to the height of several hundred feet in the 

 air, indicated the position of the Falls. The vapour was more 

 solid and gloomy-looking than the cloudlike mantle which 

 shrouds the cataract oftentimes in the summer. I doubt if there 

 is a very satisfactory solution of its existence at all. Of course 

 the cloud is caused by particles of water thrown up into the 

 atmosphere by the violent impact of the water on the surface, 

 and by the spray thrown off in the descent of the torrent ; but why 

 those particles remain floating about, instead of falling at once 

 like rain, is beyond my poor comprehension. Sure enough, a 

 certain portion does descend like a thick Scotch mist: why not 

 all? As one of my companions, with much gravity and an air 

 of profound wisdom, remarked last summer, " It's probable elec- 

 tricity has something to do with it! ' Can any one say more? 



Assuredly, this ever-rolling mighty cloud draping and over- 

 hanging the Falls adds much to their weird and wonderful 

 beauty. Its variety of form is infinite, changing with every cur- 

 rent of air, and altering from day to day in height and volume; 

 but I never looked at it without fancying I could trace in the 



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