relating to the Vale of the Mississippi. 59 



ment, called by the French name of levee, was rarely required and 

 only in very low places. Since that period, from year to year, the 

 river has continued to rise higher and higher, which has obliged 

 the inhabitants of Lower Louisiana to prolong and reinforce their 

 levees," &;c. 



The Mississippi now is evidently enlarging, as progress is made 

 in clearing and cultivating the lands, whose waters run into this 

 .river. Within the last twenty-five years, its general width has 

 sensibly increased, and its overflows are more frequent. There is 

 no good reasons for the belief that it is becoming more shallow ; but 

 tliat the contrary is true, is we think demonstrated by the fact that 

 there is an evident diminution in the number of what are denominated 

 snags, and sawyers or planted trees.* It may be observed also, that 

 the current is less furious at particular points, as near the termination 

 of a bend, where the water always presses hardest. We think 

 these changes indicative of an increased depth of water in the river, 

 rather than of a tendency to become more shallow as many have 

 supposed. The natural oudets through the Delta, that forms the 

 mouths of the river cannot increase, but must diminish in number 

 as the dejxjsitions from the water accumulate ; consequently although 

 the impediments at the mouth may not diminish, they cannot increase, 

 before the Delta is pushed upon Cuba; We should also recollect, 

 the weight of this stream, which surpasses, perhaps, any other in the 

 world, and when assisted by the Gulf stream, it will always keep its 

 mouths and bar of at least the same depth as at present. 



PROSPECTIVE VIEW. 



When the surface of the great country, whose waters pour into 

 the Mississippi, shall be compacted by time, with the aid of a more 

 scant spontaneous vegetation, and of a more extended cultivation, 

 the quantity of water which will then be borne through the channel 

 of the river, will be incomparably greater than at present. Heavy 

 and repeated rains, which might now bring the water, only within five 

 feet of the level of the banks, will then produce such an overflow, 

 as will inundate the vales and destroy the crops. 



In the year 1805, the writer stood upon the banks of the Missou- 

 ri, and with astonishment beheld its diminutive stream. And even 

 inconsiderable as it was, it appeared to be half filled with sand bars. 



* Local names given to trees that have fallen into the river, and become so fixed 

 that the currents do not remove them. — £^d. 



