

two hundred yards lengthens tlte distance 1 considerably by the con- 

 I dodging from one side to the other, made necessary by the 

 obstructions. There are but a few houses on the road ; sometimes 

 are f and close together within twenty miles, but all 

 the rest presents the most gloomy and dreary region that can be 

 imagined, the level tract of pine lands being but occasionally inter- 

 rupted by a small branch or creek running in a deep hollow. 



From Bundick's creek the road is extremely hilly and water- 

 I after traveling twelve miles Sugartown is reached, 

 which, with the exception of Lower Bundick's creek, is the best set- 

 tlement in North Calcasieu. Here I was very hospitably entertained 

 by a gentleman, originally from Kentucky, who had opened a store 

 in the place, and thereby rendered considerable service to the neigh- 

 borhood by furnishing all the necessaries and luxuries of civilized 

 life, and thus giving an impulse to agriculture. 



The pine hills from Sugartown to Calcasieu river are extremely 

 • and the farmhouses are scarce, and are only met with at long 

 distances. "When I arrived near the Calcasieu bridge, about thirty- 

 five miles from Alexandria, I was informed that the sloughs on the 

 other side of the bridge had been swelled to such an extent by the 

 rain that had fallen the previous day that they could not be passed 

 without swimming. I therefore remained in the neighborhood till 

 fhe next morning, when I ventured to cross, but found the bridge 

 the most dangerous on account of its dilapidated condition, while 

 the sloughs were just high enough to cover the carriage bed without 

 the necessity of swimming. The low swamp lands on both sides of 

 the river were almost impassable, especially as they were cut up by 

 deep ruts, made by heavily loaded ox wagons, which are constantly 

 passing between this part of the country and Alexandria. 



The road from Calcasieu river to Bayou Rapides continues to be 

 sandy and hilly, but is, comparatively speaking, in a passable con- 

 dition. The abrupt descent of the pine hills and the beautiful level 

 surface of the highly improved alluvial lands of Bayou Rapides, 

 form quite a contrast, which gives to the country a picturesque 

 pearance. Although this part of Rapides is settled by first c 

 gentlemen, yet some parts of the most level road that can be found, 

 were in the most desperate condition. Mudholes are met with which 

 it was impossible to avoid, into which my carriage fell with a pin- 



