ILLINOIS AND ITS CLIMATE. 77 



On the 23rd of December I arrived at Lebanon, a little 

 hamlet on a hill about tAventy miles from St. Louis. My 

 thoughts turned involuntarily to the gigantic cedars ; the 

 highest tree on this mountain of Lebanon was the tavern 

 sign-post. Next day I had a march of thirty-two miles : 

 as the usually soft ground was now frozen hard, the 

 route was very rough, and hurt my feet ; yet I pushed on, 

 and in the afternoon arrived in the valley of the Mis- 

 sissippi, or, as they call it opposite St. Louis, the 

 " American bottom ; " it is considered the most productive 

 land in the United States. The vegetable mould must 

 be from fifty to sixty feet deep ; but it is low, and in 

 consequence wet, and therefore unhealthy. 



During my progress through Illinois I heard con- 

 stant complaints of ague, particularly from the Ger- 

 mans ; it is very prevalent all the summor, and even in 

 winter they are not always free from it. The pale 

 countenances of all, especially of the children, bore too 

 strong evidence that the complaint was well founded. 



At length, after sunset, I arrived on the eastern bank of 

 the Mississippi, and heard to my great vexation that the 

 river was so full of ice, that it was utterly impossible to 

 get across. At any rate it was not to be thought of 

 for this evening, so that I was obliged to pass another 

 night in Illinois. Very tired with my long journey, I 

 went early to bed. I was awakened in the night by a 

 fresh arrival, who threw himself right upon me. I 

 moved a little to one side, while he took up the middle 

 of the bed ; I should have had room enough if the 

 stranger had not been very restless. Now as I did not 

 like the idea of being disturbed all the rest of the night, 

 it was necessary to obtain peace in some way or other ; 

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