RIVERS. 



m 



shores, may be compared with that of the Nile, 

 which deposits a similar manure, and for many cen- 

 turies past has insured the fertility of Egypt. When 

 its banks shall have been cultivated as the excel- 

 lency of its soil and temperature of the climate de- 

 serve, its population will equal that, or any other 

 part of the world. The trade, wealth, a.nd power, 

 pf America, will, at some future period, depend, 

 and, perhaps, center, upon the Mississippi. This 

 also resembles the Nile in the number of its mouths, 

 all issuing into a sea that may be compared to the 

 Mediterranean, which is bounded on the north and 

 south by the two continents of Europe and Africa, 

 as the Mexican bay is by North and South America* 

 The smaller mouths of this river might be easily 

 stopped up, by means of those floating trees, with, 

 which the river, during the floods, is always covered. 

 The whole force of the channel being united, the only 

 opening then left would probably grow deep, and de-r 

 stroy the bar. . 



On the subject of this great river, Mr. Dunbar, of 

 Natchez, observes: The multiplicity of the rivers^ 

 which are tributary to the Mississippi, extending, 

 themselves over an immense tract, comprehending; 

 nearly 20 deg. in lat. and 30 deg. in long, must ren- 

 der this river, at all seasons, one of the most consi * 

 derable on the globe. The annual inundatioa, being; 

 supplied from so great a variety of climates, must 

 liaturally be expected to be of Jong duration ; and 

 may be estimated at nearly half the year ; begin- 

 ning, generally, to rise in January, and falling iiji 

 June. 



