500 TERRITORIES OF THE 



considerable streams, owing to the vicinity of the waters of the Mis- 

 souri, of the Kansas, Sec. on the one side, and those of Red river on 

 the other. The chief rivers which fall into it, are the Verdigris, 

 the Negracka, Canadian river, Grand river, 8cc. Several are remark- 

 able for being strongly impregnated with salt ; the Arkansas itself, at 

 certain seasons, is said to be brackish. The lands on this river for 

 six or eight hundred miles up, are described as very fine and capa- 

 ble of affording settlements, though principally untimbered. For a 

 long distance up, the flat lands on either side are intersected with 

 numerous bayoux. There is a remarkable communication between 

 the Arkansas and White river, by a channel or bayou connecting the 

 two rivers with a current setting alternately into the one or the other, 

 as the flood in either happens to predominate. 



White River was little known until lately ; it is one of the most 

 considei'able in the western country, and will one day be important. 

 It rises in the Black mountains, which separate the waters of the 

 Arkansas from those of the Missouri and Mississippi. Several of its 

 branches interlock with those of the Osage river, the Maramek, and 

 the St. Francis. It is navigable about twelve hundred miles, without 

 any considerable interruption ; eight hundred of these may be made 

 with barges, the rest with canoes or smaller boats. The waters of 

 this river are clear and limpid, the current gentle, and even in the 

 driest season, plentifully supplied from the numerous and excellent 

 springs which are every where found. It is not less remarkable for 

 the many considerable rivers which it receives in its course. Black 

 river is the largest of these ; it enters on the horth-east side, about 

 four hundred miles up, and is navigable nearly five hundred miles, 

 receiving a number of handsome rivers, as the Current, Eleven 

 Point, and Spring rivers. The last merits a more particular de- 

 scription. It issues forth, suddenly, from an immense spring, two 

 hundred yards in width, affording an uninterrupted navigation to its 

 mouth, contracting its width, however, to fifty or sixty yards. It is 

 about fifty miles in length.* This spring is full of the finest fish ; 

 bass, perch, pike, and others common in the western rivers. Be- 

 sides this river, White river receives several others from one hun- 

 dred and fifty to three hundred miles in length ; as Eaux Cache, James 

 river, Rajiid John, and others known by various names. 



The country watered by this river has only been traversed by In- 

 dians and hunters, and may be considered as still unexplored. It is 

 described as being generally well wooded, and uncommonly abundant 

 in springs and rivulets. The soil is said to be rich, though there are 

 some places hilly and broken ; some of^the hills might be more pro 

 perly termed mountains. 



St.. Francis discharges itself into the Mississippi seventy-five miles 

 above White river, and would be navigable but for rafts which im- 

 pede its course, for nine hundred miles. The western branch rises 

 with the waters of White river, and the eastern, which is the princi- 

 pal, interlocks with Big river, of the Maramek, and runs nearly 

 parallel with the Mississippi in its whole length, seldom receding 

 more than fifty miles. Above it is a beautiful and limpid stream, pass- 

 ing through a charming country, but afterwards, though increased 

 in size, by its junction with several other rivers, it flows with a slow 

 and lazy current. The St. Francis communicates with a number of* 



* A town or village has been lately commenced at the mouth of this river. 



