252 VISIT GARDEN ISLAND. Chap. NIL 



then with ready pole turned the canoe a little aside, and we 

 glided swiftly past the threatened danger. Never was canoe 

 more admirably managed : once only did the medicine seem 

 to have lost something of its efficacy. We were driving 

 swiftly down, a black rock, over which the white foam flew, 

 lay directly in our path, the pole was planted against it 

 as readily as ever, but it slipped, just as Tuba put forth 

 his strength to turn the bow off. We struck hard, and 

 were half-full of water in a moment ; Tuba recovered him- 

 self as speedily, shoved off the bow, and shot the canoe into 

 a still shallow place, to bale out the water. Here we were 

 given to understand that it was not the medicine which was 

 at fault ; that had lost none of its virtue ; the accident was 

 owing entirely to Tuba having started without his breakfast. 

 Need it be said we never let Tuba go without that meal 

 again ? 



We landed at the head of Garden Island, which is situated 

 near the middle of the river and on the lip of the Falls. On 

 reaching that lip, and peering over the giddy height, the 

 wondrous and unique character of the magnificent cascade at 

 once burst upon us. 



It is rather a hopeless task to endeavour to convey an 

 idea of it in words, since, as was remarked on the spot, an 

 accomplished painter, even by a number of views, could 

 but impart a faint impression of the glorious scene. The 

 probable mode of its formation may perhaps help to the con- 

 ception of its peculiar shape. Niagara has been formed by a 

 wearing back of the rock over which the river falls ; and, 

 during a long course of ages, it has gradually receded, and left 

 a broad, deep, and pretty straight trough in front. It goes on 

 wearing back daily, and may yet discharge the lakes from 

 which its river — the St. Lawrence — flows. But the "Victoria 



