Science, Geology and Physics 



trees, bushes, mire, and water. After stooping, struggling, and 1822 

 sliding, near a quarter of a mile, we came to the Table Rock; Wl 

 a part of the stratum, over which the river descends, and the edge 

 of the precipice, which at this place forms the British bank of 

 the river. This rock is at a small distance from the cataract; and 

 presents the spectator with as perfect a view, as can be imagined. 



These falls are situated twenty-one miles, reckoned on the 

 British, and twenty-three, reckoned on the American arm of the 

 river, (where it is divided by Grand Isle,) from Buff aloe, two 

 miles less from the outlet of Lake Erie, and fourteen miles from 

 the entrance of the river into Lake Ontario, between Newark 

 and Fort Niagara. The river bends, on the American side, about 

 twelve miles to the North- West, and on the British side, about 

 four, immediately below Navy-Island. It is here little less than 

 four miles wide, and sufficiently deep for any navigation. It 

 gradually becomes narrower, as it approaches the falls; but 

 immediately above them its breadth is not far from three miles. 

 From one mile and three quarters above, or opposite to the Sted- 

 man farm, it begins to descend with a rapid and powerful current. 

 At the falls it turns instantly with a right angle to the North- 

 East, and in a moment is contracted to three quarters of a mile. 



Below the falls the river is not more, and in some places it is 

 less, than half a mile in breadth. Its depth here is great, being 

 said to exceed three hundred feet; and its current is violent, 

 proportionately to this contraction. 



The cataract is formed by the brow of that vast bed of lime- 

 stone, which is the base of all this country. . . . 



The quantity of water descending at this place in a given 

 time, may with considerable probability be estimated from the 

 following data. 



The river at the ferry is seven furlongs wide, and at an aver- 

 age twenty-five feet deep. The latter of these facts I received 

 from an intelligent ferryman. The same man stated the current 

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