Hocky Mountains. 383 



Mountains, but they traverse a region hitherto very imper- 

 fectly known. It appears, however, that these two rivers 

 drain all the north-western side of the mountainous range 

 in question. Black river runs nearly parallel, that is from 

 northeast to southwest, along the south-eastern side of the 

 range. Its sources are in the district of the Lead Mines, 

 and at no great distance from those of the Merameg and the 

 St. Francis. Its course is at first S. E. about sixty or one 

 hundred miles, then turning to the southwest, it receives in 

 succession from the south-eastern side of the mountains the 

 Little Black, the Currant, Thomas' river or fork. Eleven 

 Point, Spring, and Strawberry rivers, uniting at length with 

 White river, in latitude 35" 15'. As far as is hitherto known 

 it receives no considerable tributary from the east. About 

 the sources of Black river reside the Peola or Peoria In- 

 dians, who are said to number about fifty warriors. Parallel 

 to this river, and from twenty to sixty miles distant, on the 

 east, is the St. Francis, a larger river, but one in many re- 

 spects resembling Black river. It rises in the highlands 

 about one hundred miles to the westward of St. Genevieve, in 

 Missouri, and receiving before it leaves the hills Bear creek, 

 Castor, White water, and numerous other streams, it de- 

 scends toward the southeast, soon entering the extensive 

 swamp which stretches from New Madrid, onthe Mississip- 

 pi, along the base of the mountains to the Arkansa. We have 

 been informed, by some of the inhabitants of the counties of 

 Cape Girardeau and Madison, that in this swamp the St. 

 Francis is so much obstructed with rafts, and so lost among 

 islands,, that its course can with difficulty be traced. It is 

 well known that in the lower part of its course it is so ob- 

 structed by a large raft as not to admit the passage of the 

 smallest boats. Its confluence with the Mississippi is about 

 three hundred and five miles below the Ohio, and eighty 

 above the mouth of VVhite river. Running parallel, both to 

 the Mississippi and White river, and at no great distance- 



