+. dint Cornelius, : s&s = 
et ith which it is associated, and whieh is so» troublesome to the 
feet of horses. ;The soil consists of a soft clay, or light sand, 
on which you seldom meet with astone of any kind. The 
surface of the earth is undulating and hilly, but not mountain- 
ous. The materconrias do not move rapidly and tumultu- 
ously, as in the limestone country; but form in the soft earth, 
deep trenches, through which they glide smoothly and silently 
along. The smallest rivulet often has a trench ten feet deep; 
and the earth over which it passes, is continually tia to 
its gentle attrition. 
_. The only minerals which I observed, are sandstone, common 
and ferruginous ; silicious pebbles in beds of creeks, and oc- 
casionally on the uplands; earthy ores of iron, particularly 
red oxides, and petrifactions of shells, wood, &c. In addition 
to these, it may here be mentioned that galena has been found 
in small quantities at Gibson’s Port, and at Elis’s Cliffs, in the 
State of Mississippi: a crystal of amethyst, in the same state, 
by Mr. Blennerhassett; and a great variety of useful ochres, 
in many places on the banks of the Mississippi. 
In the geological map attached to Professor Cleaveland’s Min- 
eralogy, the alluvial country bordering on the Gulf of Mexico, 
is represented as terminating at Natchez. But why its termi- 
nation is placed here, 1 am unable to understand. The country 
above and below Natchez, so far as it. has come under my ob- 
Servyation, presents. no difference of appearance in its geology, 
or mineralogy. Iam. aware that at Natchez, when the water 
of the Mississippi is lowest, a soft rock is seen, from which 
lime has been obtained. But this rock is two hundred feet 
below the surface of the adjoining country; and admitting that 
itisa limestone rock, there is no difficulty in supposing it may 
constitute the basis of the alluvial deposit which rests upon it. 
That the incumbent earth is alluvial, can be doubted, I think, 
by no one who has had an opportunity of examining it. Dy 
Means of a road, which has been cut obliquely down the side 
of the bluff, distinct layers of clay, sand, and pebbles, haye 
been exposed for the whole distance from the summit to the 
base. ‘The same character is observed at a distance from the 
river, where the earth has been excavated by washing, °F dig- 
Vol. 1.... No. 4. 2 
