■30 Bringier on the Region of the Mississippi, 4^c. 



Soilf Productions, ^-c. 



At first sight, the country about the hot springs appears 

 poor, being composed principally of pine lands; but expe- 

 rience has proved, that the pine flats, which are very ex-- 

 tensive, produce the best of wheat, and cottpn of a superior 

 quahty. The soil produces, moreover, the majority of the 

 other productions cultivated in that cHmate; a great quanti- 

 ty and variety of grapes, of an exquisite quahty, and as 

 large as musket balls, are found in the woods. 



The extensive surrounding country is populating rapidly, 

 in spite of the repeated orders which have been given to the 

 settlers to move out of that region. Emigrants daily pass 

 over the Arkansas, and they count already, upward of 3000 

 individuals spread, since three years, about the springs Four- 

 che Cadeau, Little Missouri prairie aux JJnes, Mount prai- 

 rie, (a thick settlement,) and Pacane point, joining Red riv- 

 er, above the rafts. 



Indian JVations — their Manners, Sfc. 



A small party of Cherokee Indians, amounting to about 

 forty, likewise went over the Arkansas last year, to form a 

 settlement on the Red river; they are increasing every day 

 by the accession of dissatisfied persons living on the Arkan- 

 sas; they will probably, all pass over there before long; and 

 claim both the country they will have in possession, and 

 that which has been given to them by treaty, in exchange 

 for some of their lands in Tennessee. 



Nearly all the country, lying between the Cans»Iian river 

 to the west, tlie Red river to the south, the Wachitta to the 

 east, and Arkansas to the north, is claimed by a small rem- 

 nant of a once formidable nation of Indians, called the Ar- 

 kansas or Quawpaws, (from Ogaghspagh floating with the 

 current or down stream.) They pretend to have come dowu 

 the Ohio about five generations ago, and at the confluence 

 of that river, as some wanted to go up the Mississippi, and 

 others to descend the river, they divided into tv;o parties : 

 these came down stream as far as the mouth of Arkansas. 

 which they ascended about thirty miles to the first prairies; 

 the others ascended the Mississippi and the Missouri. They 

 are the Mawpaws settled below the river Kansas. They 

 tinderstand each other perfectly well. The Osages are said 



