boughs, beechen chips, strawberry, blackberry, and currant leaves, with spice wood, spear-mint, peppermint, maple-buds, catenup, sarsaparilla, and birch bark, are more commonly found at a Canadian tea-table, if I may so call it, than Souchong, Hyson, or Congo. They also use peas, wheat, rye, Indian corn, burnt flour, and toasted barley, as substitutes for coffee.

LETTER XIX.

NATURAL CURIOSITIES

IN THE UPPER PROVINCE WHIRLPOOL

NEAR QUEENSTOWN-RASH ADVENTURE OF A BRITISH SOLDIER -THE FALLS OF

WEST-FLAMBOROUGH-MINERAL

SPRINGS

-SALINE SPRINGS WANT OF ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF SALT-CONDUCT OF THE PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE-GYPSUM-MARL AND BLACK LEAD-IRON FOUNDERY.

BESIDE the herbs mentioned in the preceding chapter, there are many others with which I am wholly unacquainted. Indeed, the country affords a vast field for the researches of the naturalist, the botanist, the mineralogist, and the chymist. It abounds with a variety of herbs and plants, whose qualities have never been fully ascertained, and whose very names are yet undetermined. Various kinds of mines have also been discovered in many places; and mineral-springs, some of which are of a most interesting nature, may be met with in almost every district.

There are, besides, many striking natural curiosities, the principal of which are the Falls of Niagara already mentioned; the Whirlpool in the Niagara River; the Great and Little Falls of West Flambro'; and the several saline, mineral, and bituminous springs.

The Whirlpool between the Falls of Niagara, and the village of Queenstown, is a very great though not inexplicable 'curiosity. It is situate in a part of the Niagara river where the banks are nearly 200 feet high, and almost perpendicular. Immense trees extend their ample foliage over the awful gulf on every side, and are affected with a tremulous motion, proceeding from the violent circulation of the water. The river above the whirlpool is deep and rapid, and flows within a contracted channel only 150 yards wide, which suddenly expands to at least 500, forming an oval interfluent basin, of at least 6000 feet in circumference. On approaching this basin, the stream redoubles in velocity, as if eager to free itself from the narrow boundaries within which it had been previously confined, and, passing over a slope, 50 feet in descent, enters into the basin with a tremendous roar: Then diverging to the north of the direct channel, it rushes impetuously round the surrounding cliffs, until it seems at length to regain its proper course, which begins at the angle of a rocky and impending promontory, whose dark and thickly-wooded summit frowns in terrific majesty upon the vast profound. This curious whirling course of the water creates a great eddy or whirlpool, which, by revolving quickly every 5 or 6 minutes, as if upon its own axis, forms a strong tide, that, at intervals of half an hour, alternately rises and falls about 80 inches. All floating matter that is driven down the Falls, is attracted

"

within the range of this ample vortex, where it frequently remains for several days, twisted about by every rapid evolution of the whirlpool, until, apparently by mere chance, it is violently expelled from the extreme verge, or is drawn out by the impetuosity of the contending current. It differs from many other whirlpools, in possessing none of that absorbing power which is generally felt at their centres.

A few years ago, a British soldier, stationed at Queenstown, went to see the Whirlpool: Severał of his regimental comrades, and a few other persons, accompanied him on the excursion. In the course of conversation on the subject, one of the Canadians expressed his conviction of the impossi bility of any man's sailing across the basin without being driven along by the current of the tremendous vortex. The soldier heard the remark, and seemed rather sceptical,--probably supposing, that it was spoken for the purpose of imposing on his English credulity, by an endeavour to make the phenomenon appear more marvellous. When he had for some time attentively surveyed the river, he offered to wager a certain sum, that he would sail across the basin on a bare pine-plank. His bet was immediately taken, and a plank prepared for his embarkation. Like a true son of Neptune, disdaining all apprehensions, he proceeded down the banks with the plank on his shoulder, and a paddle in his hand; and, on approaching the edge of the water, embarked with a hearty cheer from his companions.

In the twinkling of an eye, he was hurried into the middle of the raging basin, being compelled by the uncontrollable force of the current to abandon the channel and take the rapid circuit of the vast pond. He used the most strenuous exertions to regain the course of the river, but without beingable to effect his purpose. At length, convinced of the utter impossibility of saving himself, he began to cry out loudly to his comrades for assistance. Ropes were procured with the utmost dispatch; but, before they could be properly arranged for effecting his rescue, he had become so completely vertiginous and inebriated by the whirling motion, as scarcely to be able to preserve his equilibrium on his frail seat, which, though of great length, was twisted round as rapidly as the radii or spokes of a large water-wheel. Five minutes' longer delay on the part of his friends, would have cost him his life; and his name would then have been immortalized, as that of a daring but unfortunate individual, who was literally entitled, in its most select signification, to the epithet of "an expert circumnavigator." He was, however, speedily extricated from his very dangerous situation; and his adventure serves now as a beacon to warn others from. engaging in such a hazardous enterprize.

The Falls of West Flamborough, in the District of Gore, though little known, rank among the greatest curiosities of Upper Canada. They are situated in a retired and unfrequented part of the country, in the midst of precipitous hills covered