494 TERRITORIES OF THE 



first settled by Canadian French as early as 1735; they were re- 

 presentedby Volney, who visited them in 1797, as "meagre, tawny, 

 and poor as Arabs;" but it now wears a different aspect ; the popu- 

 lation has been increased by enterprising emigrants from the neigh- 

 bouring and eastern states, and the town is flourishing. It is the 

 emporium of trade for the territory, consisting principally of peltry 

 and furs. Corrydon, Jeffersonville, Lawrenceburg, and Clarksville, 

 are the other towns; they are all small villages. The exports of the 

 territory are yet small ; the inhabitants raise no more of the articles of 

 life than are wanted for the domestic consumption of the country. 

 There is a settlement of Swiss emigrants on the Ohio river about 

 ninety miles below Cincinnati, who have been successful in cultivating 

 the vine. The vintage of 1812 produced about 5000 gallons. The 

 species principally cultivated is the Constantia or cape grape ; the 

 Madeira grape is also cultivated. In a few years this will undoubted- 

 ly present an article of export to the Atlantic ports ; at present they 

 find no difficulty in obtaining a market in the neighbouring towns at 

 one dollar and twenty-five cents per gallon. 



ILLINOIS TERRITORY. 



Boundaries and divisions, population and government. ...This 

 territory in 1809 was separated from Indiana. It is bounded on the 

 south by the Ohio river ; on the east by Indiana territory, from which 

 it is divided by a meridian line, commencing at Vincennes on the 

 Wabash river ; on the north it has lake Superior and the British 

 possessions, and on the west the Mississippi river. It is divided into 

 five counties, and contains according to the last census 12,282 inhabi- 

 tants. The counties are Madison, St. Clair, Randolph, Johnson and 

 Gallatin. The three former are on the Mississippi ; the two last on 

 the Ohio and Wabash. The government is the same as that of In- 

 diana. 



Face of the country, soil and climate, rivers, original 

 population, &c. The country is in general pretty level; the 

 prairies are extensive, and numerous. It is well watered by several 

 important rivers and their tributary streams. The Kaskaskias river 

 empties into the Mississippi about ninety miles below the Missouri, 

 its course is through a fertile country, and it is navigable for boats 

 120 miles. The Illinois river is one of the most important in the 

 territory, interlocking by a porterage of three miles with the Chica- 

 gow, a short river, which empties into lake Michigan near its south- 

 ern extremity. In spring, boats often pass from one river to the other 

 without unlading. It is navigable above 400 miles, and is the great 

 channel of the fur and peltry trade from the country north and west 

 of lakes Superior and Michigan, to St. Louis in Missouri territory. It 

 enters the Mississippi eighteen miles above the mouth of the Missouri. 

 Stony river is a navigable stream about 200 miles. The Ouisconsin 

 is the second river in point of size ; it is a fine navigable stream, and 

 interlocks by a porterage of one mile with Fox river, emptying into 

 lake Michigan. It runs a westerly course and joins the Mississippi 

 near Prairie du Chien, in north latitude 43° 5'. The soil is in general 



