The largest in the River Niagara, is twelve miles in length, its breadth
varying from two to seven miles. Its soil, unlike that of the islands
nearer the cataract, is very fertile, and much of it is under
cultivation. Its historic annals are less interesting than those just
mentioned, although one enterprise has a monumental reminder, still in a
good state of preservation. A gentleman who in the current vernacular of
to-day would doubtless be entitled a “crank,” conceived the project of
making this island a place of refuge for the scattered tribes of Israel.
In 1825 he laid the corner-stone of the “City of Ararat,” and erected a
monument with imposing ceremonies. The latter still serves to remind the
visitor that “cranks” are not original with the present generation.
At the foot of Grand Island is a smaller one, of about three hundred
acres, called Buckhorn Island. The channel between them is called “Burnt
Ship Bay,” from the destruction of two armed supply vessels by the
French garrison at Schlosser, near the close of the French war of 1759,
to prevent their acquisition by the English. They were brought to this
bay, and set on fire, and the circumstance is thus commemorated by the
name of the bay.
Corner’s Island, Gill Creek Island and Grass Island, all of them small,
lie near the American shore, and are important, commercially or
historically.
[Illustration: FATHER HENNEPIN’S SKETCH OF THE FALLS.]
The first white man who saw the Falls, of whom we have any account, was
Father Hennepin, the noted explorer. We present above a _fac-simile_ of
the sketch made by him, representing the Falls as they were 200 years
ago. We also give his extravagant description, preserving the
orthography and the quaint style in which it was written:--
“Betwixt the Lake _Ontario_ and _Erie_, there is a vast and prodigious
Cadence of Water which falls down after a surprizing and astonishing
manner, insomuch that the Universe does not afford its Parallel. ’Tis
true, _Italy_ and _Suedeland_ boast of some such Things; but we may
well say they are but sorry Patterns, when compar’d to this of which
we now speak. At the foot of this horrible Precipice, we meet with the
River _Niagara_, which is not above a quarter of a League broad, but
is wonderfully deep in some places. It is so rapid above this Descent,
that it violently hurries down the wild Beasts while endeavoring to
pass it to feed on the other side, they not being able to withstand
the force of its Current, which inevitably casts them headlong above
Six hundred foot high.
“This wonderful Downfal is compounded of two great Cross-streams of
Water, and two Falls, with an Isle sloping along the middle of it. The
Waters which fall from this horrible Precipice, do foam and boyl after
the most hideous manner imaginable, making an outrageous Noise, more
terrible than that of Thunder; for when the Wind blows out of the
South, their dismal roaring may be heard more than Fifteen Leagues
off.
“The River _Niagara_ having thrown it self down this incredible
Precepice, continues its impetuous course for two Leagues together, to
the great Rock above-mention’d, with an inexpressible rapidity: But
having past that, its impetuosity relents, gliding along more gently
for other two Leagues, till it arrive at the Lake _Ontario_ or
_Frontenac_.
“Any Bark or greater Vessel may pass from the Fort to the foot of this
huge Rock above-mention’d. This Rock lies to the Westward, and is cut
off from the Land by the River _Niagara_, about two Leagues farther
down than the great Fall; for which two Leagues the People are oblig’d
to transport their Goods over-land; but the way is very good; and the
Trees are but few, chiefly Firrs and Oaks.
“From the great Fall unto this Rock which is to the West of the River,
the two Brinks of it are so prodigious high, that it would make one
tremble to look steadily upon the Water, rolling along with a rapidity
not to be imagin’d. Were it not for this vast Cataract, which
interrupts Navigation, they might fail with Barks or greater Vessels,
more than Four hundred and fifty Leagues, crossing the Lake of
_Hurons_, and reaching even to the farther end of the Lake _Illinois_;
which two Lakes we may easily say are little Seas of fresh Water.”