NIAGARA FALLS. 
113 
having approached within half a mile of the 
place, the mist was but just discernible, and 
that the sound even then was not to be heard ; 
jet it is nevertheless strictly true, that the 
tremendous noise of the Falls may be distinctly 
i 
heard, at times, at the distance of forty miles; 
and the cloud formed from the spray may be 
even seen still farther off* ; but it is only when 
the air is very clear, that there is a fine blue 
sky, which however are very common occur¬ 
rences in this country, that the cloud can be 
seen at such a great distance. The hearing of 
the sound of the falls afar off also depends 
upon the state of the atmosphere; it is obr 
served, that the sound can be beard at the 
greatest distance, just before a heavy fall of rain, 
* We ourselves, some time afterwards, beheld the cloud 
with the naked eye at no less a distance than fifty-four miles, 
when sailing on Lake Erie, on board one of the king’s ships. 
The day on which we saw it was uncommonly clear and 
calm, and we were seated on the poop of the vessel, admir¬ 
ing the bold scenery of the southern shore of the lake, when 
the commander, who had been aloft to make some observa¬ 
tions, came to us, and pointing to a small white cloud in the 
horizon, told us, that that was the cloud-overhanging Nia¬ 
gara. At first it appeared to us that this must be a mere 
conjecture, but on minute observation it was evident that 
the commander’s information was just. All the other light 
clouds in a few minutes, flitted away to another part of the 
horizon, whereas this one remained steadily fixed in the 
same spot 5 and on looking at it through a glass, it was plain 
to see that the shape of the cloud varied every instarft, owing 
to the continued rising of the mist from the cataract beneath. 
VOL. II. 
I 
