in North-Eastern America. 



11 



the limestone the Genessee and the Niagara, among other rivers, 

 precipitate themselves, producing those magnificent falls which 

 have given celebrity to Niagara, and an unlimited water-power 

 and most rapid rise to the city of Rochester. 



The following section will give an idea of the appearance of 

 the mountain-ridge in the steepest and boldest parts of its course, 

 and will show how it overlooks the flat plain of the Medina sand- 

 stone and the waters of Lake Ontario. 



No. 11. 



In this section the dotted mass above and below No. 1 is the 

 Medina sandstone. No. 2 is the Niagara shale, and No. 3 the 

 overlying thick-bedded limestone. It is taken behind the town 

 of Lewiston, at the mouth of the Niagara river, on what is called 

 the American side. The view which the spectator enjoys from 

 the top of the escarpment at this spot is worth going a long way 

 to see. Sheer down one looks over the scattered town of Lewis- 

 ton, upon the broad flat forest-lands stretching many miles back 

 from the lake, and eastward along its shores farther than the 

 eye can reach. Here and there only, at the time of my visit, in 

 all this distance a clearing appeared upon this often marshy flat. 

 Right in front lay the endless lake and its occasionally iDolder 

 shores beyond, with now and then a straggling sail or a distant 

 steamer's smoke, all mellowed and blended by a four o'clock sun. 

 I was much struck both with the extent and with the unsubdued 

 wildness of the prospect, when I unexpectedly reached the cliff 

 on my way from the falls ; and I could not help thinking how 

 some two centuries hence, when all this low plain before me 

 shall have been cleared, drained, and cultivated — when smiling 

 villages and cheerful homesteads, and scattered flocks and herds 

 overspread its surface, and the blue smoke may be seen dying 

 away from many chimneys as the Sabbath bell clraws the gather- 

 ing people towards the frequent house of worship — how many in 

 those days for broad pictures of natural beauty, intense with 

 countless little episodes of still life, will yet frequent this moun- 

 tain ridge when the noise of the neighbouring cataract has 

 wearied them, and softer scenes are wished for to calm and com- 

 pose their fevered spirits. 



No. 4, the Onondaga Salt Grouj)., derives its name from the 

 brine-springs which issue from it in various parts of this western 



