40 



endeavour I should certainly feel but little con- 

 fident of either reaching the merit of the sub- 

 ject, or contributing to the stock of knowledge 

 already obtained thereon, I will excuse myself 

 from repeating what has been so often related 

 before, and proceed in describing, with my 

 best means, the general outlines of this majestic 

 river. Five miles from the great Falls is an- 

 other, and scarcely less tremendous natural cu- 

 riosity, called the Whirlpool; it is occasioned by 

 the stream as it passes from the cataract, sweep- 

 ing with impetuous violence round a natural 

 bason enclosed between some rocky promon- 

 tories, wherein it forms a vortex that ensures 

 inevitable destruction to whatever comes within 

 its attraction. By thus diverging from its for- 

 ward direction, and being as it were embayed 

 for a time, the velocity of the current is checked, 

 and subdued to a more tranquil course towards 

 Lake Ontario. Four miles from hence is 

 Queen's Town, a neat well built place, de- 

 serving of notice, as being the depot for all 

 merchandize and stores brought from Montreal 

 and Quebec for the use of the upper province; 

 but not less so for the romantic beauty and 

 local grandeur of its situation. For seven miles 

 further on, to the town of Newark or Niagara, 

 the river forms an excellent capacious harbour 

 for vessels of any size, exceedingly well shel- 



