UNITED STATES. 495 



fine, the rivers are skirted by extensive fertile meadows. As the ter- 

 ritory includes many degrees of latitude, it must be supposed to have 

 a variety of climate ; the southern part is represented as being mild 

 and fine ; in the northern part the severity of the higher latitudes is 

 experienced. In both this and Indiana territory the land is principally 

 claimed by the Indians ; the Winebagos, Kickapoos, Delawares, 

 Miami, and various other tribes. Many small lakes are scattered 

 over this territory, some of them very beautiful, stored with fish, 

 and resorted to by myriads of waterfowl, of every description. There 

 are no mountains, except, perhaps, in the extreme northern part, 

 and the few hills are of moderate height. These are found chiefly 

 in the neighbourhood of the Ohio, and some of the other large rivers. 

 In summer a great variety of wild flowers grow in the prairies. The 

 timber on the uplands consists of a large proportion of oak, hickory, 

 &c. The pecanne is found in abundance in the vallies. The nut of 

 this tree is very fine. It is a favourite with the crows and paroquets, 

 who are always found in the same neighbourhood. Wild plums, 

 hops, and other vines, are abundant in the bottoms. Grapes are found 

 in most situations. The papaw and persimmon trees are numerous. 



What is called the American bottom, is a remarkable tract of very 

 rich land, bordering on the Mississippi river, extending in length 

 about 100 miles (from below Kaskaskias to the mouth of the Illinois) 

 and averaging from three to four miles in breadth. The eastern mar- 

 gin of this bottom is bounded by a perpendicular bluff of rocks, of 

 various heights, generally from one to four hundred feet. Eastward 

 the land continues nearly on a level with the top of the bluff, and the 

 dry prairies soon commence. These are not so rich as the American 

 bottom, but both they and the woodlands produce good Indian corn, 

 and excellent wheat and other small grain. Much good land is said td 

 be on the Illinois and Ouisconsin rivers, as also on the big and little 

 Wabash. On the whole, this territory equals any part of America 

 for soil; but, except in some places, it is not well supplied with tim- 

 ber and springs. 



Illinois contains the usual species of quadrupeds found in the 

 other parts of North America, with those peculiar to the western 

 prairies, as the prairie dog, &c. Bisons were once very numerous, 

 but have disappeared ; their paths, with many of their bones and horns, 

 are still visible. Some elk still remain. Deer are very numer- 

 cus. The number of water fowl would be incredible to one who has 

 not visited the country in the spring season. The air is sometimes 

 literally filled, and the waters covered with immense flocks of swans, 

 geese, pelicans, ducks, herons, sand-bills, &c. Turkies are in plenty, 

 with partridges; pheasants are not so numerous. Grous abound in 

 the prairies. The beautiful paroquet is in great abundance. Coal 

 is plenty in various parts of the territory. There are some appear- 

 ances of lead ore. Salt is made in the greatest abundance, at the 

 United States' saline, 12 miles from the Ohio. It supplies the whole 

 btate of Tennessee and a considerable part of Kentucky and Indiana 

 territory. Seven hundred bushels per day have been made. The 

 settlements are a good deal scattered. The most northern is of French 

 as high as the Ouisconsin river, or Prairie du Chien. There was 

 one of the same people at Peoria near ha\f way up the Illinois, but 

 it was broken up by the late war. Fort Clark has been lately built at 

 that place. The American bottom, before described, is settled 

 throughout, but not thickly except at Cahokiaand Kaskaskias, which 



