UNITED STATES. 501 



lakes which lie between it and the Mississippi, formed by the streams 

 which flow from the upland country, and lose themselves in the low 

 grounds commencing at Cape Girardeau. This river receives several 

 considerable streams, which rise between it and the Mississippi ; the 

 Pemisco, one of the principal, has its source near the Big prairie, 

 eight or ten miles northwest of New Madrid ; the St. Francis in high 

 water, generally overflows its banks on that side to a great distance. 

 The western bank is higher and much less subject to inundation. 



Maramek is forty miles below the mouth of the Missouri, and heads 

 with the Gasconade and the St. Francis. Passes generally through a 

 broken country, the flats mostly narrow. It affords excellent naviga- 

 tion to its source, a distance of more than three hundred miles. The 

 source of this river is considered a curiosity ; it is a small lake 

 formed from fountains issuing immediately around the spot. Big 

 river, which winds through the Mine country, is the principal 

 branch. 



The Gasconade enters the Missouri about one hundred miles up f . 

 can be ascended in small boats nearly one hundred miles ; but the na- 

 vigation is not good on account of shoals and rapids. It passes 

 through a hilly country, in which there probably exist mines. 



Osage River is navigable about five hundred miles, though consi- 

 derably impeded in places by shoals. It enters the Missouri 133 

 miles up. The principal navigable branches are Nangira, Grand 

 river, the Fork, the Cooks river, Vermillion river. Country bor- 

 dering, genex-ally high prairie, but the bottoms are fine and suffi- 

 ciently timbered for settlements. On the Nangira, about twenty 

 miles from its mouth, there is a curious cascade of more than one 

 hundred and fifty feet fall in the distance of four hundred yards; the 

 water issues from a large spring and is precipitated over three differ- 

 ent ledges of rocks, and falling to the bottom, is collected into a 

 beautiful basin, from whence, it flows into this river, a considerable 

 stream. A few miles below this place there is a great abundance of 

 iron ore. 



Soil, face of the country, &c....About twenty miles below 

 Cape Girardeau, and thirty-five from the mouth of the Ohio, the 

 limestone rock terminates abruptly, and there commences an im- 

 mense plain, stretching with scarcely any interruption, to the Balize. 

 It is successively traversed by the St. Francis, White river, Arkan- 

 sas, Washita, and Red river. This flat may be considered, on an 

 average, about thirty miles wide, and with hardly an exception, is 

 without a hill, or a stone. The soil is generally rich, and has the 

 appearance of being alluvial, though there is a greater proportion of 

 sand than is usual, in the neighbourhood of the rivers. 



It is worthy of observation, that from the' Maramek to the mouth 

 of the St. Francis, upwards of 500 miles, no river of any conse- 

 quence empties into the Mississippi ; the considerable rivers, as the 

 St. Francis, Black river, and Osage, fall to the south-west, or to the 

 Missouri. 



In leaving the upland country, at Cape Girardieu, we enter what 

 has been called the great swamp : though it does not properly pos- 

 sess this character. The timber is not such as is usually found in 

 swamps, but fine oak, ash, olive, linn, beech, and poplar of enor- 

 mous growth. The soil a rich black loam. In the fall it is nearly 

 dry ; the road which passes through being only muddy in particular 

 spots : but during the season of high water it is extremelv disagree- 



Vol. II. 3 S 



