A JAUNT TO THE FALLS OF NIAGARA, ON THE AMERICAN SIDE. THE TRAVELLERS. A party from a distant City are on a tour of pleasure to the Falls. There are three principal routes on the American side that lead to this celebrated place. One from the upper lakes, the south, and the east, through the City of Buffalo, from thence by Rail Road to the place of destination: One from Canada, and the lower lakes, via Lewiston, and from thence, also, by Rail Road: The third, from the east, by the Erie Canal, Rail Roads, Stages, and Steam Boats, to the City of Rochester, and through the village of Lockport, and from thence by Rail Road to the Falls. The travellers that are the Dramatis Persona of this iaunt, are seated in the Lockport and Niagara Falls rail road cars. They have arrived within two miles of the object of their visit, and the exclamation is heard —"the Falls! the Falls!" An imposing scene has, indeed, broke upon them, and a general move takes place to catch a glimpse of the mighty cataract. Those seated at the right side of the cars have a full and direct view in front, First sight. and of the Niagara river, which, by their side, flows far beneath. On the very verge of its banks, at a dizzy height, they are whirling at the rapid rate of eighteen miles an hour. On looking below, some passengers hold their breath in amazement; others have been known to express their astonishment by a low protracted whistle, until the supposed danger was past. On looking at the object before her, one of the ladies exclaims-"is that the Falls?" "Yes," replies a passenger, "and look below, there is the far famed Niagara river." Another observes -"after so long a period I behold this place;" and one-"what a distance have we come to feast our eyes upon this scene!" "Great mist arises from the water- the Falls seem concealed behind a cloud. Is it always so?" "Always," answered a person familar with the scene, "and in the clear cold weather of winter, the mist which arises in clouds, appears like the flame and smoke of some great conflagration, or as of a burning city. At such times the burning of Moscow is always brought to my remembrance." In a few minutes after the Falls are first beheld, at the mineral spring, two miles from the cataract, the cars have rolled on; have passed through the main street of the Village, and have stopped at the upper end. 166 passen The cars of the passengers are saluted with gers for the Cataract," "travellers for the Eagle," "gentlemen please to show me your baggage for the Cataract," "Eagle baggage," "for the Cataract, Madam?" "do you go to the Eagle, Sir?" and all the jargon which a full array of the runners and waiters from two of the best Houses in the country can utter forth. General remarks of travellers. The travellers having made up their minds before their arrival, or afterwards, go to one or the other of the hotels, enter their names, secure their rooms, and breakfast, dine or sup, as the case may be, and when prepared for a visit to the Falls, send for the Guide. The aid of a guide is indispensible, to point out the different views and to impart a full knowledge of all the localities. After having concluded their arrangements they start on their first ramble. Passing in a western direction from the hotel, they traverse the bank of the river, or after leaving a narrow street, continue along on the rising ground, until they enter a grove of trees; emerging from thence, they behold the Falls at once before them, rolling majestically, and displaying all their grandeur. "How magnificent!" "Truly, the half has not been told!" "It is grand-it is dreadful!" "They are terrible, yet beautiful!” “They appear small at a distance, and, at first sight, I was disappointed. They exceed my expectations." "Never have I beheld, or imagined, any thing comparable to this." Such are some of the many expressions which break from travellers, and show forth their emotions; they are generally those of admiration, mingled with pleasure; but many gaze and wonder in silence. Description. THE FALLS OF NIAGARA. "Tremendous torrent! for an instant hush On the western boundary of the State of New-York, runs the Niagara river, in a northern direction, and the centre of which is the boundary line between the United States and the dominions of Great Britain. The Niagara is the outlet of the vast chain of western lakes, beginning with lake Superior and its hundred tributary streams, and is the principal inlet of lake Ontario. Niagara is derived from the Indian, and was called by them Onyakarra according to David Cusich, of the Tuscarora tribe, who published a pamphlet in 1827. The Falls are twenty-two miles from lake Erie, and fourteen from lake Ontario. The two branches of the river which encompass Grand and other Islands, unite a mile above the rapids; and it is, there, two miles in width. As it advances forward the current accelerates in its downward course, and the channel contracts in width. From tranquil and glossy, a slight ripple is seen to move the surface; it next assumes a descending and cradle like movement; the waves enlarge, the tops roll over each other, and are broken into white-caps and spray. The whole body of the mighty river becomes agitated, as if conscious of the great plunge it is about to make. The placid stream has become a rushing torrent, broken into cascades and sweeping billows. Its own momentum presses it forward with irresistible violence; from ridge to ridge it bounds, until it reaches the perpendicular rock, Volume of water. and there it sweeps over, and falls below. The water boils up from beneath, like a sea of white foam; the spray rises in clouds which hang dark and heavy above, or are wafted away by the current of the wind; and rainbows encircle below and above this most wonderful of nature's works. Iris island is in the midst of the Falls, and separates the water into two great sheets. A smaller sheet is struck off by Prospect island, passing between that and Iris island. The portion between the islands and American shore is less than the main channel which separates Canada from the United States, and passes on the western side of Iris island. In that channel is borne along a volume of water of immense magnitude, the drain of more than 150,000 square miles of surface of lakes and rivers. How sublime the object that is presented to the enraptured beholder! Such a body of congregated water poured at once over so high a precipice, and falling perpendicularly into the chasm below, whose depth it is not possible for man to fathom. The rushing, roaring sound which is emited by the falling water-the variety of colors presented to the eye the splendor yet sublimity of the scene-are new to the spectator, and create emotions hard to be described. The sounds are those of the stormy ocean and overwhelming tempest, there is one continued roar, yet other sounds arise fitful and varied. Some persons, at times, have fancied noises, strange and mysterious; the intonations of the base drum-the slow, solemn and heavy report of artillery - the swelling note of the trumpet-and even the human voice in agony, has been heard by many imaginative enthusiasts. |