381 



i-ivers ; when they were left dry, and covered with a 

 luxuriant growth of herbage, and forest trees waving 

 high in air. When the inhabitants, who erected the 

 Tumuli and mounds, discovered by Mr. Darby on the 

 Teche river, were free to roam, at large, unawed and 

 unrestrained by the floods, that now annually flow at 

 their bases.* 



To attempt to establish these facts would necessa- 

 rily lead to the discussion of points, foreign to the in* 

 tentions and plan of this w r ork ; and in which no mo- 

 tives could induce a participation, save the wish to 

 promote the cause of truth, and the comfort and hap- 

 piness of that part of the human family, whose destiny 

 it may be to inhabit, and improve this portion of the 

 country, which holds out such flattering prospects, of 

 the easy acquirement of rapid fortunes, by the rich and 

 almost spontaneous products of its luxuriant soil. 



These, it is hoped, will be a sufficient excuse for 

 offering some reasons, for the opinions which 1 have 

 advanced, more especially since in this subject, the 

 welfare of, not only, the present, but future genera- 

 tions may be deeply involved. 



Whether the lands that are, at this period of time, 

 annually inundated by the overflowing of the Missis- 

 sippi, were formed by deposites of alluvion from its 

 w aters, or not, is not the question in the present in- 

 stance. It is whether the lands that are now inun* 



* See Darby's Louisiana, page 117. 



