42 



cipice for the cataract, stretches away to the 

 eastward j the finishing object of the prospect 

 in this direction is a conical eminence tower- 

 ing above the chain of heights, called Fifty 

 Mile Hili, as denoting its distance from the 

 town of Niagara. Of the many rivers flowing 

 into Lake Ontario, if the Genesee and Oswego 

 be excepted, there are none that lay claim to 

 particular notice, unless it be for the pecu- 

 liarity of all of them having a sandy bar across 

 the entrance. There are some fine bays and 

 inlets, wherein vessels of every description may 

 find protection against bad weather. Bur- 

 lington Bay is both spacious and secure ; but 

 these advantages are rendered of little import- 

 ance by its narrow entrance being so shallow 

 "as to admit nothing larger than boats. Hungry 

 Bay, on the contrary, is conspicuous, as at- 

 fording good anchorage and safe shelter among 

 the islands to ships of the largest size at all 

 seasons, York and Kingston harbours, be- 

 longing to the English, and Sacket's harbour to 

 the Americans, are unquestionably the best 

 upon the lake, as they possess every natural 

 requisite ; the two latter are strongly fortified, 

 being the arsenals where ships of war, even of 

 the first rate, have been constructed by both 

 powers, and from whence have been fitted out 

 those powerful hostile squadrons that have con-» 



