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ward, runs back in a direction nearly opposite to its general course, 

 until it comes within five or six miles of the line, below which the 

 bend first commenced. After another considerable curve to the west- 

 ward, we arrive at Point Coupee; about 15 miles above which, on the 

 eastern shore, is, Tunica village, handsomely situated, and extending 

 about twelve miles along the river. Point Coupee is a fine settlement 

 twenty miles in length. Here commences the embankment or Levee, 

 on the western side of the river, which is continued to New-Orleans, 

 a distance of about 170 miles. On the side of this bank, is a range of 

 handsome, neatly built houses, appearing like a continued village to 

 New-Orleans. The groves of orange and fig-trees are numerous, and 

 the scenery is altogether very fine. Baton Rouge, a flourishing set- 

 tlement, is about thirty miles below Point Coupee, on the eastern 

 side of the river. Here a Levee, similar to that on the western side, 

 commences and extends to New-Orleans. Baton Rouge continues 

 about 20 miles down the river, and to a considerable distance back. 

 About fifteen miles further down, on the same side, is the river Iber- 

 ville, which forms a considerable outlet from the Mississippi, when 

 the water is high. At the point below the Iberville, the Mississippi 

 turns short to the westward, forming a large bend. At the western 

 extremity of this bend, is an outlet, discharging into the sea, called 

 bayau Placquemine. The bayau la Fourche, on the same side, is 

 thirty miles further down, following the meanders of the river, and 

 eighty miles above New-Orleans. The course of the river is now 

 nearly south-east, and much more direct to the city. Opposite 

 New-Orleans it is about a mile and a half wide, and runs with a 

 pretty strong current. The distance, from the city to the mouth of 

 the river, is about one hundred and eight miles. The surrounding 

 country is low and swampy. Fifteen miles below the city, is a set- 

 tlement called St. Bernardo. From this, to fort Plaquemines, forty- 

 eight miles, the land is a morass, almost impassable for man or beast, 

 and overflowed for several months in the year. From Plaquemines 

 to the Passes is 24 miles, where the river branches into three parts. 

 From these branches to the sea, it is about twenty miles, and the land 

 has the appearance of a vastly extended marsh, covered with long grass. 

 The East Pass, at the distance of six miles, divides into two branches. 

 The eastern is called Pass a la Loutre, and the other Belize. On the 

 Belize is a small block house. There are very narrow sand bars with- 

 out the mouths of the passes. Large ships enter by the Belize, there 

 being the greatest depth of water on the bar. The south pass, which 

 runs most direct to the sea, is almost choked up with drift wood. 

 The west pass, which is the longest and narrowest, and used to be 

 the passage by which large ships entered the river, had some years 

 ago eighteen feet, but is now said to be reduced to only eight feet of 

 water on the bar. Immediately after passing the bars the water deep- 

 ens to six or seven fathoms. 



There are various impediments to the navigation of the Mississippi, 

 the most considerable of which are what are called jilanters and saw- 

 yers. Planters are the trunks of trees, firmly fixed in the bed of the 

 river. Sometimes they are perpendicular, but generally inclined. 

 When elevated above the surface, they are easily avoided, but when, 

 their points are covered by a few feet of water, which is frequently 

 the case, they are very dangerous. Sawyers are trees loosely held by 

 their roots, to the bottom of the river. These rise and fall with the 

 current, at regular intervals. 



Next to the Mississippi the Ohio is the largest river of the United 



