On the Navigatiun of the Mississippi. 129 



goods, suited for the markets of Genevieve and St Louis on 

 the Upper Mississippi, or branched off and ascended the Ohio 

 to the foot of the falls, near Louisville, in Kentucky. But, 

 reader, follow their movements, and judge for yourself of the 

 fatigues, troubles, and risks of the men employed in that navi- 

 gation. A keel-boat was generally manned by ten hands, prin- 

 cipally Canadian, French, and a patroon or master. These 

 boats seldom carried more than from twenty to thirty tons. 

 The barges had frequently forty or fifty men, with a patroon, 

 and carried fifty or sixty tons. Both these kinds of vessels were 

 provided with a mast, a square sail, and coils of cordage, known 

 by the name of cordelles. Each boat or barge carried its own 

 provisions. We shall suppose one of these boats under way, 

 and, having passed Natchez, entering upon what were called 

 the difficulties of their ascent. Wherever a point projected, so 

 as to render the course or bend below it of some magnitude, 

 there was an eddy, the returning current of which was some* 

 times as strong- as that of the middle of the great stream. The 

 bargemen, therefore, rowed up pretty close under the bank, and 

 had merely to keep watch in the bow, lest the boat should run 

 against a planter or sawyer. But the boat has reached the 

 point, and there the current is to all appearance of double 

 strength, and right against it. The men, who have all rested 

 a few minutes, are ordered to take their stations, and lay hold 

 of their oars, for the river must be crossed, it being seldom pos- 

 sible to double such a point, and proceed along the same shore. 

 The boat is crossing, its head slanting to the current, which is, 

 however, too strong for the rowers, and when the other side of 

 the river has been reached, it has drifted perhaps a quarter of a 

 mile. The men are by this time exhausted, and, as we shall 

 suppose it to be twelve o'clock, fasten the boat to the shore, or 

 to a tree. A small glass of whisky is given to each, when they 

 cook and eat their dinner, and, after repairing their fatigue by 

 an hour's repose, recommence their labours. The boat is again 

 seen slowly advancing against the stream. It has reached the 

 lower end of a large sand bar, along the edge of which it is pro- 

 pelled by means of long poles, if the bottom be hard. Two 

 men, called bowsmen, remain at the prow, to assist, in concert 

 with the steersman, in managing the boat, and keeping its head 

 APRIL — JUNE 1831. 1 



