S4S Expedition to the 



the Verdigris and upon the head waters of Osage river, al- 

 so the Konzas Indians, living upon the river bearing their 

 name, are included within this section of the country. 



In regard to climate, this region, as it expands through 

 more than eight degrees of latitude, may he expected to af- 

 ford a considerable variety, and the position is sufficiently 

 verified by the commencement and progiess of annual vege- 

 tation. The change of climate is also indicated by certain 

 peculiarities observable in the vegetable products of differ- 

 ent parts of the country. For example, vegetation begins at 

 least a month earlier in the southern, than in the northern 

 extreme of the region. The Spanish moss disappears north- 

 wardly of the thirty -third degree of north latitude. Cotton 

 and indigo cannot be cultivated to advantage in a latitude 

 higher than thirty-six degrees, and the cane brake is seldom 

 found north of 37 1-2 degrees. 



In regard to the salubrity of the climate, there is also a 

 diversity, depending upon local circumstances rather than 

 upon the temperature of the weather. A luxuriant soil yield- 

 ing its products to decay and putrify upon the ground, al- 

 so stagnant waters, flat lands, and marshes, in which the ri- 

 ver vallies of this region abound, cannot fail to load the at- 

 mosphere with pestilential miasmata, and render the country 

 unhealthy, wherever these occurences are to be met with. 

 But it is presumed that the causes of disease will gradually 

 be exterminated, as the population of the country increases. 

 Of the rivers of this region, there are many that are navi- 

 gable for keel-boats of several tons burden, but all of them 

 have more or less obstructions from shoals and frosts at dif- 

 ferent periods. The Arkansa, which in point of magnitude 

 and extent, deservedly ranks second amongst the tributaries 

 of the Mississippi, (the Missouri being the first) is navigable 

 to the mouth of the Neosho, or Grand river, a distance of 

 about six hundred miles. In this part of the river, however, 

 the navigation is liable to obstructions, for want of a sufficient 

 depth of water, during a period of two and a half or three 

 months commencing in July. Occasional obstructions are 

 also imposed by ice forming in the river, during the winter 

 season, but these are seldom of long continuance, the winters 

 being usually short and mild. As the freshets of the river 

 seldom continue more than a few days at a time, and are usu- 

 ally attended by sudden rises and falls of the water, boats of 

 moderate draft and burden only, are suited to its naviga- 

 tion. The Arkansa is navigable at all seasons for boats of this 



