them. As soon as the snow disappears, the ground in the woods is literally covered with herbage of this kind. The fetid smell, arising from such a great quantity of strongly-scented vegetables, is so very overpowering, that you cannot walk in the open air in the Spring-time of the year for many minutes without inhaling a sufficient portion of garlic to sicken a pole-cat. Cattle of all kinds are however partial to this offensive herb, and devour it with such appetite, that in a month or five weeks from the disappearing of the snow, they become sleek and in excellent condition. During this period milk and butter are of little value to any man, except he be fortunate enough to have lost his palate, and to be in possession of an unconquerable stomach. You might as well drink water strongly impregnated with assafoetida as attempt to force milk and butter of this description on the delicate organs of deglutition. When allowed to arrive at maturity, the garlic produces a variety of little flowers, very beautiful in appearance, and of a much more agreeable odour than the leaves of the parent stem. A herb, called by the name of WILD TURNIP, is very common in Canada. The root of this herb is not much unlike that of the common white turnip; but the stalk which grows two or three feet high, and the leaves which are beautifully. variegated, have not the slightest resemblance to those of any turnip with which I am acquainted. The stalk of this singular plant terminates in a flower somewhat like a tulip; and its root is considered an excellent remedy for the colic. But it is almost impossible to taste it without one's mouth being set on fire, for it is much more pungent than Cayenne pepper. The JUNIPER TREE is an ever-green, which produces an abundant supply of berries; but they are seldom collected in Canada, though they might prove a good article for exportation to England or Holland, where they are employed in the manufacture of GIN, to which they are said to communicate a fine flavour, and to impart a diuretic quality. The REIN-DEER Moss, a species of Wild Oats, and a coarse kind of River Grass, grow in the swamps and small lakes. The SEA RYE, the Seaside Plaintain, the Sea Rocket, the Laurier, and the Seaside Peas, are also natives of Canada, and are used by the Indians for a variety of purposes. An aromatic herb, called INDIAN GRASS, is used as a substitute for Lavender; it retains its odour for a length of time, and communicates a very agreeable scent to clothes. A herb, called INDIAN TEA, is employed as a substitute for that of China, and is considered by some of the Canadians to be little inferior to the best Congo. But they use any thing and every thing in lieu of that incomparable plant. Hemlock 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 WEST-FLAMBOROUGH-MINERAL SPRINGS NEAR QUEENSTOWN-RASH ADVENTURE OF A BRITISH SOLDIER It BESIDE the herbs mentioned in the preceding chapter, there are many others with which I am wholly unacquainted. Indeed, the country affordsa vast field for the researches of the naturalist, the botanist, the mineralogist, and the chymist. 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 |