ten miles below that line on the west side is Red River, or Reviere Rouge.

This river derives its name from the colour of its water which is perpetually red or reddish. It mixes with the Mississippi with great reluctance, and is seen in blotches and in a separate current for a considerable extent. On the banks and in the vicinity of the Red River, are the rich settlements of Rapide, Avoyellos, and Natchiloches, all thriving and populous. The latter is situated seventy-five leagues up the Red River. On the north side of the Red River, a few leagues from its junction with the Mississippi, is the Black River, on one of whose branches, a considerable way up, is the infant settlement of Ouachita, which, from the great richness of the soil may be made a place of importance. Cotton is the chief produce of these settlements; but they have likewise a considerable fur or

Indian trade. The Red River communicates with the frontiers of North Mexico.

On a retrospect, there is no other settlement on the west side of the Mississippi, above the Red River, till you come to the mouth of the Orkanzas, seven hundred and fifty miles from New Orleans, and there, as I observed, there are but few families, who are more attached to the Indian trade (by which they chiefly live) than to cultivation. Nor is there any settlement from the Orkansas to New Madrid, which is in itself inconsiderable; and from New Madrid there is none till you reach Cape Garardeau, above the mouth of the Ohio.

Below the Red River, five miles, is one of the most dangerous bayeaus on the Mississippi; it is called Chaffalis, and to avoid being sucked into its vortex, it is absolutely necessary to keep

the middle of the river and to row with

great force.

Several islands occur between the Chaffalis and the Bayeau Tunica, a distance of forty-six miles, and the Tunica Villages are ten miles from the bayeau, and are seated on the East side.

A little above these villages, the Mississippi forms almost a complete circle, leaving a narrow peninsula of about one mile and a half across, which if cut through, a distance of about thirty miles would be saved. The cut could be t made for a mere trifling expence, there not being a single stone or a morsel of clay on the entire course.

On the West side,, twelve miles below the Tunica Villages, is Point Coupee church. It is one hundred and fifty miles from New Orleans, and is the commencement of the richest and best settlement on the river, along

Its

which it extends eight leagues. produce is cotton. Behind it, on an old bed of the river, now a lake, whose outlets are closed up, is the settlement of Fausse Reviere, which is populous and well cultivated. From this settlement to the sea are contained three fourths of the population, and seveneights of the riches of all Louisiana.

From Point Coupee church to Cape Guardeau, above the mouth of the Ohio, there is no land on the West side that is not overflowed in the spring, to the distance of eight or ten leagues from the river, with from two to twelve feet water, except the small prairie at New Madrid; so that in the whole extent of near nine hundred miles, there is no possibility of forming a considerable settlement contiguous to the river on that side. The Eastern bank has in this respect a decided advantage over the Western, as there are on it many

situations which effectually command

the river.

Bayeau Sara lies fifteen miles below Point Coupee church. This stream is on the East side, and about nine miles up it is a very fine settlement, in which resides a Mr. Bradford, formerly of Washington, Pennsylvania, a gentleman of immense possessions, and an intelligent worthy character.

Point Coupee is on the West side, five miles below Bayeau Sara. Thompson's Creek is on the East side, three miles below Point Coupee. On this creek are fine cotton plantations, the soil of which is remarkably good.

Baton Rouge is thirty miles lower down, and Bayau Manchee fifteen.

Baton Rouge is remarkable as being the first place where the high land is contiguous to the river, and there it forms a bluff from thirty to forty feet above the greatest rise of the water. There also