388 



moreover, if this should occur at the time of the annual 

 inundation, or spring freshets, need we wonder that 

 great and important changes should be going on,* in 

 many parts of this territory, by the annual operations 

 of conflicting currents ? That lands, which at some 

 distant and unknown period of time, were, probably, 

 inhabited, and on which mounds or tumuli have been, 

 erected, should experience such a change, that " Not 

 even a village of savages could have existed through- 

 out the year, within several miles of this place." 



" The spot where they (the tumuli) are situated, is 

 more dreary and sunken than any part of the swamp, "f 



^Need we hesitate to admit that, under such circum- 

 stances, alluvial deposites should be yearly accumulat- 

 ing upon lands, previously formed and once, probably, 

 exempt even from partial inundations by water ; and 

 where the stately oak and lofty cypress were at liberty 

 to shoot up, and arrive at maturity, undisturbed and 

 uninjured by the inroads of that element ; but whose 

 naked trunks are now standing leafless and dead, sur- 

 rounded by water in the midst of lagoons ?J 



It appears that in this case no one can long remain 

 in suspense, or, for a moment, cherish a single doubt. 



It is this view of the subject that led to the remark, 

 that in it the welfare and happiness of, not only the 

 present, but future generations are deeply involved. 



A few observations illustrative of this fact, although 

 not strictly connected with the general views of this 



* Darby's Louisiana. t Do. p. 118. \ Do. p. 31. 





