48 Expedition to the 



the Bois Broule bottoms, the Ocoa, or Kaskaslcia river, the 

 St. Lora, a handsome stream, from the west, and the Ga- 

 baree Creek, on which stands the old French town of St. 

 Genevieve. The navigation of the Mississippi, above the 

 mouth of the Ohio, is at all times difficult. The current is 

 considerably accelerated by the descent of the river over the- 

 rocky traverses which cross its bed. At times of low water, 

 innumerable sand bars occur in various parts of the channel, 

 rendering the navigation extremely precarious. 



A little below the mouth of the Kaskaskia, is a creek call- 

 ed the Saline, entering on the west side. A grant of a tract 

 of land, one league square, was here made by the Spanish 

 government, in favour of a Frenchman named Pegreau, the 

 founder of the deserted town called New Bourbon. The 

 tract included a valuable brine spring, near the mouth of the 

 creek. The proprietor built a house near the bank of the 

 Mississippi, where he resided for some time, and carried on 

 a manufacture of salt; but having occasion to go to France, 

 he rented his works to a man, who for want of funds, or 

 for some other reason, failed to keep them in operation. Af- 

 ter the transfer of Louisiana to the United States' Govern- 

 ment, this grant, among others, became an object of specu- 

 lation ; and advantage being taken of Pegreau's absence, 

 the worthless tenant was instigated to prosecute his landlord 

 for breach of contract, and by a legal process recovered 

 damages to the amount of nine thousand dollars, for the 

 disbursement of which the property was sold and fell into the 

 hands of the piesent proprietors. 



At the mouth of the Kaskaskia river, on the east bank of 

 the Mississippi, a town has been recently commenced called 

 Portland. The highlands approach here to the brink of the 

 river, affording an elevated and advantageous site, the land- 

 ing is said to be good, and there is reason to expect that 

 Portland will soon rival the old town of Kaskaskia, the pre- 

 sent seat of great portion of the mercantile business in this 

 part of Illinois. 



