LOUISIANA. 489 



amiableness of manners prevailed which is scarcely known in the 

 old states. The English language has made surprising progress in 

 Louisiana, yet there exist prejudices which are to be regretted : it 

 is with some reluctance they think of amalgamating with the rest of 

 the states, and of falling into the same mode of thinking on political 

 subjects. In fact scarcely the elements of political knowledge yet 

 pervade the mass of the people. They have an unaccountable dis- 

 like to the liberal professions, and take but little pains in the education 

 of their children. The Louisianians possess much ardour and acute- 

 ness of mind, united with bodily activity, though not usually strong- 

 They are fond of pleasures, and although inclined to indolence, their 

 exercises are often very fatiguing. The small planters or peasantry 

 of Louisiana, are a hardy, inoffensive, industrious, ignorant people, 

 who scarcely ever stir from their houses; of the greatest simplicity 

 of manners ; cultivate a little rice, Indian corn, cotton, tobacco, and 

 a variety of garden vegetables. Their diet is extremely meagre, and 

 they have a sallow unhealthy appearance. The rich planters who live 

 well, and use the necessary precautions against the diseases of the 

 climate, look as well as any people in the world. All travellers agree 

 in the praise of the fair sex of Louisiana ; their manners are amiable 

 and modest, their countenance pleasing, and persons fine. Yet they 

 are not properly appreciated by their countrymen, if we may judge 

 from the vile custom of concubinage with women of colour, which 

 prevails to a scandalous extent. Some of the wealthiest individuals 

 have none but families of coloured people, who are always kept out 

 of the way when strangers visit the house. The morals of the peo- 

 ple generally are certainly loose, but it is to be hoped that the new 

 order of things will by degrees effect a change. Some unfortunate 

 jealousies prevailed between the Americans and the native Louisia- 

 nians, but it is to be presumed that the late co-operation in the defence 

 of the state, and its glorious result, will tend to do away unreasonable 

 and ill-founded antipathies. 



Mineralogy. ...From the nature of the soil, the delta presents 

 little to the eye of the mineralogist. Coal is occasionally discovered, 

 and the timber which is imbedded in the alluvion, is daily becoming 

 converted into that mineral. A story is related of a wonderful mass 

 of platina on the Black river; this is not sufficiently attested to merit 

 much attention. On Red river, near the northern boundary of the 

 state, an alum bank has been discovered, which, from appearances, 

 is calculated to yield large quantities of that article. Limestone 

 abounds on this river, as likewise a sort of rock, from which the in- 

 habitants manufacture good mill and grind-stones. Petrifactions are 

 common. The country about the Washita and Red rivers, affords 

 many instances of salt. Cathartic salts, and magnesia, may be manu- 

 factured in the neighbourhood of Natchitoches. 



Botany. ...Most of the native trees and plants of the Atlantic coast, 

 are found in this state. The cotton tree is invariably seen in abun- 

 dance on the river bottoms of the Mississippi. It is the first, after 

 the willow, which springs up on alluvion soils. The peccanne is 

 found on the low grounds, where it grows to most perfection. It is 

 a large tree, bearing some resemblance to the hickory. The cypress, 

 ash, pine, magnolia, ever-green oak, and a number of other trees, 

 are common in the state of Louisiana. The variety of flowers and 

 herbaceous plants is very great. The palmettoe is common in the 

 lower parts of the state. In the Opelousas are a number of small 



