depth varies, in different places, from 20 to 300 feet; and just below the Cataract it has never been fathomed. Niagara River embraces, in its course, many beautiful islands, the lesser ones of which are Bird Island, situated between Buffalo and Lake Erie; Square Island, opposite Black Rock, of 131 acres; Strawberry Island, of 100 acres ; Beaver Island, of 30 acres; Rattlesnake Island, of 48 acres; Tonawanda Island, of 69 acres; Cayuga Island, of 100 acres, nearest to the American shore, four miles above the Falls; and Buck-horn Island, which is low and marshy, containing 146 acres.

The two Islands of principal note in this river, are GRAND and NAVY. The former is about twelve miles long, and six miles wide; commencing seven miles below Lake Erie, and terminating three miles above the Falls. It contains about 17,384 acres of well-timbered land, and has a few inhabitants, who have been engaged principally in preparing its timber for shipping purposes, for which mills have been erected, covering an area of 150 feet square.

NAVY ISLAND, belonging to Great Britain, lies near the foot of Grand Island, terminating near Chippewa Point. It is one mile long, and half a mile wide, containing 304 acres of land. It is noted as the rendezvous of the Canadian revolutionists of 1837–8.

The banks of Niagara River, from Fort Erie on the Canadian shore, at the outlet of Lake Erie, to Chippewa, a distance of eighteen miles, are from four to ten feet high. From Chippewa to the Falls themselves, a distance of two

and a half miles, the bank is from ten to one hundred feet high, the descent of the river being ninety-two feet. From the Falls to Lewiston, a distance of seven miles, the bank varies from one hundred and fifty to three hundred feet. From Lewiston to Lake Ontario is seven miles, and in this distance the Northern Terrace, or Mountain Ridge, crosses the course of the river, when the bank diminishes to twenty-five or thirty feet. The gorge through which the Niagara River flows, after leaving the precipice that forms the Cataract, "presents almost perpendicular walls, with a talus at the bottom, formed by the falling of some of the higher strata. The outlet of the chasm is scarcely wider than elsewhere along its course. In some places the channel is less than two hundred yards across, and again is extended to twice that width. The breadth of the chasm at the top is nearly twice as great as that of the stream below. The declivity of the bed of the river, from the Falls to Lewiston, is one hundred and four feet, or nearly fifteen feet in the mile."

"At one place, about a mile below the Falls, where the channel is narrowest, the stream glides with comparative stillness, while below this, where the channel is broader, it is driven along with great velocity. Again, below the whirlpool, the surface of the river is more smooth, and the current more gentle, though the channel is narrower than above." "In the course of this gorge, is a single exception to the parallel sides and nearly verti cal cliffs; this is upon the west bank of the river at the whirlpool." The width of the gorge at Lewiston is

1500 or perhaps 2000 feet." "In the Niagara chasm there are no boulders, pebbles, or gravel. The river occupies the whole width, at the bottom, except a talus on either side, formed by angular fragments fallen from above." "From all that appears along the present river course, there was probably an ancient shallow valley extending in the direction of the present Niagara River, which gave the first direction to the waters."-Extracts from Hall's Geological Survey of the State of New-York.

NOTE 16.-PAGE 51.

There are many caves found along the banks of the Niagara River, below the Cataract. About a mile below the Falls on the American side, are two caves, one of which presents the appearance that the rocks, over which the American Falls are now precipitated, would present if the waters were suddenly withdrawn. The other and principal cave is a round hollow cavity, from six to eight feet in diameter. It is entered about four feet from the base of the rock, through an aperture just large enough to admit a common-sized man. When first discovered, its roof was covered with beautiful stalactites, and a spring bubbled up from the bottom. It was discovered in 1825 by a Mr. Catlin, from whom it derives its name.

Another cave, called the Giant's Cave, a few rods below the former, is found at an elevation of about ten or fifteen feet from the base of the cliff. Here also, upon its back and sides, are some stalactite formations.

Bender's Cave, sometimes called Devil's Den, is on Its breadth and depth are about forty feet, and its position about twenty feet from the edge of the bank. For a description of the Cave of the Winds, see Note 18.

the Canada side, above the Whirlpool.

NOTE 17.-PAGE 53.

The melancholy death of Dr. Hungerford, of West Troy, N. Y., occurred in May, 1839. While passing under Hog's Back Point near to the Cave of the Winds, a fragment of the rock overhead was loosened and precipitated below upon him, causing instant death. His companions escaped with slight injury. On examination, his skull upon the back part of his head, and his shoulder, were found to be broken. It is a curious fact, as stated by another, that just previous to his descent beneath the rock, he wrote the lines in his note-book

I fear not, I dread not, though cataracts oppose,
The rocks that support me, I rend as my foes."

NOTE 18.-PAGE 53.

The Cave of the Winds, or Æolus' Cave as it is called by some, and by others, Ingraham's Cave, from the name of its first discoverer, is found directly under the Central Fall. It is formed by the projection of the rocks from above, over which the water flows. It is nearly one hundred and twenty feet in width, fifty feet in depth, and

over one hundred feet high. In 1834 it was entered with difficulty, since which time it has been made more accessible. The winds and spray are said to rush around within the area of this cave in ceaseless agitation. In 1846, a gentleman lost his life in an attempt to explore it; he was supposed to have been suffocated, being found dead, and lying upon his back in a position not admitting of any conclusion that an accident of different character had befallen him.

NOTE 19.-PAGE 53.

At the return of the three great Jewish festivals of the Passover, Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles, all the adult males among the people of Israel were required to make their appearance at the tabernacle or the temple with their offerings.

NOTE 20.-PAGE 55.

The MANITOU, or PINNACLE ROCK, is supposed to be a portion of the cliff, at the base of which it lies, thrown down in former times. It is situated about fifty rods above the Whirlpool, at the edge of the river, its shape being that of an inverted cone, with its apex resting upon the summit of another large rock, reaching to the height of nearly one hundred feet from the water's edge. The top of this rock is flat, and covered with moss, and from it a full view of the raging whirlpool below is presented.