58 Miscellaneous Geological Toes 
autumn, which, under favorable circumstances of dry weather, would 
sometimes destroy, for the moment, the vegetation of immense re- 
gions, burning every tree to the top and leaving none alive. This 
mode of removing the cane must have been continued and extended 
with the increase of Indian population, by which means the water, 
under the given circumstances, escaped more readily. No matter 
how extensive a country of cane and wood was destroyed by fire; 
the cane during the following year would spring forth again, and in 
two or three months, stand as thick and as luxuriant as before. Hav- 
ing the exclusive possession of the land, it precluded the possibility of 
the coming forth of trees, but being unable long to withstand the ac- 
tion of the sun’s rays, it would ere long die, and leave the land free 
for grass and trees to take possession and contend for the mastery. 
It was now that the waters of the lakes found the fractured points 
whe i began to press hard upon them ; 
es, assisted by fire began to form the prairies, and continued 
to extend their bounds. And now during the spring season, on the — 
surface of the ravines, the water began to show itself, and make its 
way slowly, through the thick cane-brake, until taking advantage of 
the paths, made along the ravine by the beasts of the’ forest, it at 
length excavated a distinct channel. This channel probably existed 
in a very inconsiderable degree, at the time when the white man ap- 
peared. Under his subduing hand, forests and cane-brakes disap- 
peared, and even prairies lost their names and became forests and 
fields. ores, 
ABORIGINAL BURNING. 
I suppose that during the second century, of the Christian Era, 
the Indians passed out of Asia into America, and that about the 
fifth and sixth century, they had considerably increased and spread 
over North and South America, where they continued to kindle 
their autumnal fires. About this time, the waters of the lakes had 
probably. made a considerable breach through the ridges and moun- 
tains, which formed natural dams, running across the ravines, and 
then the water began to show itself on the surface of the vale; when 
inroads were soon made upon the cane and trees, and thus a channel 
was formed. In 1750, the French settlements began on the banks 
of the river, above New Orleans ; ; for the term of twenty years they 
cultivated the land and * rarély” says Mr. Dunbar, “ had they ever 
seen the ee surmount the level of its banks, and the cages ae 
