NAVIGATION OF THE MISSISSIPPI. 131 



foot of the Falls near Louisville in Kentucky. But, reader, follow their 

 movements, and judge for yourself of the fatigues, troubles and risks of 

 the men employed in that navigation. A keel-boat was generally manned 

 by ten hands, principally Canadian French, and a patroon or master. 

 These boats seldom carried more than from twenty to thirty tons. The 

 barges frequently had forty or fifty men, with a patroon, and carried fifty 

 or sixty tons. Both these kinds of vessels were provided with a mast, a 

 square-sail, and coils of cordage, known by the name of cordelles. Each 

 boat or barge carried its own provisions. We shall suppose one of these 

 boats under way, and, having passed Natchez, entering upon what were 

 called the difficulties of their ascent. Wherever a point projected, so as to 

 render the course or bend below it of some magnitude, there was an eddy, 

 the returning current of which was sometimes as strong as that of the 

 middle of the great stream. The bai-gemen therefore rowed up pretty 

 close under the bank, and had merely to keep watch in the bow, lest the 

 boat should run against a planter or sawyer. But the boat has reached 

 the point, and there the current is to all appearance of double strength, 

 and right against it. The men, who have all rested a few minutes, are 

 ordered to take their stations, and lay hold of their oars, for the river 

 must be crossed, it being seldom possible to double such a point and pro- 

 ceed along the same shore. The boat is crossing, its head slanting to 

 the current, which is however too strong for the rowers, and when the 

 other side of the river has been reached, it has drifted perhaps a quarter 

 of a mile. The men are by this time exhausted, and, as we shall suppose 

 it to be twelve o'clock, fasten the boat to the shore or to a tree. A 

 small glass of whisky is given to each, when they cook and eat their 

 dinner, and after repairing their fatigue by an hour's repose, recom- 

 mence their labours. The boat is again seen slowly advancing against 

 the stream. It has reached the lower end of a large sand-bar, along the 

 edge of which it is propelled by means of long poles, if the bottom be 

 hard. Two men called bowsmen remain at the prow, to assist, in concert 

 with the steers-man, in managing the boat, and keeping its head right 

 against the current. The rest ^place themselves on the land side of the 

 footway of the vessel, put one end of their poles on the ground, the other 

 against their shoulders, and push with all their might. As each of the 

 men reaches the stern, he crosses to the other side, runs along it, and 

 comes again to the landward side of the bow, when he recommences ope- 



