Travels through the states of North America, and the provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, during the years 1795, 1796, and 1797 [Vol. 2 of 2]Weld, Isaac
History
Travels through the states of North America, and the provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, during the years 1795, 1796, and 1797 [Vol. 2 of 2]
Weld, Isaac
Canada -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800; United States -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800
For a century past, however, it has remained nearly in the
present form; and as the ebullition of the water at the bottom of the
cataract is so much greater at the center of this fall than in any other
part, and as the water consequently acts with more force there in
undermining the precipice than at any other part, it is not unlikely
that it may remain nearly in the same form for ages to come.
[Sidenote: NIAGARA FALLS.]
At the bottom of the Horse-shoe Fall is found a kind of white concrete
substance, by the people of the country, called spray. Some persons have
supposed that it is formed from the earthy particles of the water, which
descending, owing to their great specific gravity, quicker than the
other particles, adhere to the rocks, and are there formed into a mass.
This concrete substance has precisely the appearance of petrified froth;
and it is remarkable, that it is found adhering to those rocks against
which the greatest quantities of the froth, that floats upon the water,
is washed by the eddies.
We did not think of ascending the cliff till the evening was far
advanced, and had it been possible to have found our way up in the dark,
I verily believe we should have remained at the bottom of it until
midnight. Just as we left the foot of the great fall the sun broke
through the clouds, and one of the most beautiful and perfect rainbows
that ever I beheld was exhibited in the spray that arose from the fall.
It is only at evening and morning that the rainbow is seen in
perfection; for the banks of the river, and the steep precipice, shade
the sun from the spray at the bottom of the fall in the middle of the
day.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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