Again Another Bridge, By Which We Crossed To The
Main Land; And While Overwhelmed At Once By The Beauty And
The sublimity
of the scene, all at once the idea struck me that the Yankee who called
Niagara "an almighty
Fine water privilege" was tolerably correct in his
definition, for the water is led off in several directions for the use of
large saw and paper mills.
We made several purchases at an Indian curiosity-shop, where we paid for
the articles about six times their value, and meanwhile our driver took
the opportunity of getting "summat warm," which very nearly resulted in
our getting something cold, for twice, in driving over a stump, he all
but upset us into ponds. Crossing the suspension-bridge we arrived at the
V. R. custom-house, where a tiresome detention usually occurs; but a few
words spoken in Gaelic to the Scotch officer produced a magical effect,
which might have been the same had we possessed anything contraband. A
drive of three miles brought us to the whirlpool. The giant cliffs, which
rise to the height of nearly 300 feet, wall in the waters and confine
their impetuous rush, so that their force raises them in the middle, and
hurls them up some feet in the air. Their fury is resistless, and the
bodies of those who are carried over the falls are whirled round here in a
horrible dance, frequently till decomposition takes place. There is
nothing to excite admiration about the whirlpool; the impression which it
leaves on the mind is highly unpleasing.
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