96 THE HIVE OF THE BEE-HUNTER. 



and Sippah, are used when describing' the most familiar 

 things ; but these two words, though they are employed 

 thus familiarly, when separated — compounded, form the 

 most characteristic name we can get of this wonderful 

 river. Missah, literally Old big, Sippah, strong, Old- 

 BiG-STROXG ; and this name is eminently appropriate to 

 the Mississippi. 



The country through which this river flows, is almost 

 entirely alluvial. Not a stone is to be seen, save about 

 its head-waters ; and the dark rich earth " looks eager 

 for the hand of cultivation;" for vegetation lies piled 

 upon its surface with a luxuriant wastefulness that beg- 

 gars all description, and finds no comparison for its ex- 

 tent, except in the mighty river from which it receives 

 its support. This alluvial soil forms but frail banks 

 wherewith to confine the swift current of the Mississippi ; 

 and, as might be imagined, these are continually altering 

 their shape and location. 



The channel is capricious and wayward in its course. 

 The needle of the compass turns round and round upon 

 its axis, as it marks the bearings of your craft, and in a 

 few hours will frequently point due north, west, east, 

 and south, delineating those tremendous bends in the 

 stream which nature seems to have formed to check the 

 headlong current, and keep it from rushing too madly 

 to the ocean. 



But the stream does not always tamely circumscribe 

 these bends : gathering strength from resistance, it will 



