81 



lombard'y poplar, but it is probably a different 

 species. It differs, at least, in the very large 

 quantity of volatile, capillary pappus attached to 

 the seeds. When the seed vessels open, and the 

 seeds come out, it almost fills the air, and, as it 

 descends, covers the bushes and ground, like a 

 fall of light snow. Its appearance very nearly 

 resembles cotton wool, which has doubtless oc- 

 casioned its trivial name. 



The pecan, or Illinois hickeiy, grow plenty on 

 the Mississippi. In the swamps and lowest 

 flooded land, the cypress of a large size is the 

 principal growth. Where the land is less inun- 

 dated the swamp and live oak abound, which is 

 highest estimated for ship building. The points 

 at the bends of the river, and ends of islands, are 

 chiefly covered with thickets of small willows. 



At the confluence of the Ohio with the Mis- 

 sissippi, its width is very little increased, and 

 continues generally about a mile' and a half, as 

 far as the Natchez, where it begins to grow some- 

 what broader. The principal rivers which dis- 

 charge their waters into the Mississippi, are the 

 Saint Francis, White, Arkansas, and Red river, 

 on the western side, and on the eastern, the Wolf 

 and the Yazoo rivers. 



Immediately on passing out of the Ohio into 

 the Mississippi, the current is very sensibly ac- 

 celerated, but is not so strong as between the 

 Ohio and the Missouri. It is estimated to run 

 at the rate of three and a half to four miles an 



