Science, Geology and Physics 



Here, at the foot of the south-eastern end of the Crescent, 1834 

 I heard again, and very clearly and distinctly, the third sound 

 peculiar to the Falls. The deep roaring tone, with the thunders 

 between, I have mentioned before ; but if you go very near to the 

 water, you hear now and then a shrill piercing sound very much 

 like die horn or trumpet of one of our stage-coachmen, or of the 

 guards of the mail, as I have heard them in London, when 

 hurrying along the Strand. I have not found this peculiar noise 

 of the cataract mentioned any where, yet I am sure that I do not 

 deceive myself; for I have repeatedly noticed them, and found 

 my observation confirmed by several other persons whose atten- 

 tion I had directed to the subject. It is necessary to listen with 

 some attention, otherwise the sound is swallowed up by the over- 

 powering general noise. It seems to me not difficult to explain 

 it: among the endless forms which the water must adopt in this 

 constant and violent motion, it can be easily imagined, that some- 

 times a mass of water happens to include a quantity of com- 

 pressed air, which, if opportunity offers, escapes through a small 

 opening, producing this disagreeable shriek, well comparable to 

 the trumpets of evil spirits sounding from the abyss of torment. 



A staircase leads from the brink of the eastern bank, and a 

 steep path from the top of the western bank to the ferry-houses 

 below. I have suggested, that, to save the trouble of descending 

 and ascending, an apparatus should be constructed for hoisting 

 visitors up and down in a large comfortable basket on iron 

 chains. 



Another staircase, leading from the brink of Goat Island to 

 the water below, I have mentioned already. . . . The path 

 behind the Central Fall, the walk to the foot of the south-eastern 

 end of the Crescent, the best views of the Cataract from below, 

 the true views of a waterfall, have thus been presented to us, 

 because it is only by way of this staircase that we can reach the 

 respective point, except by means of boats, which are trouble- 

 some and expensive. 



Some of the best views of the Cataract are — from above, 



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