89 



purchase of Louisiana, this line was the boundary 

 of the United States, on the south. 



At a small distance below the line, the river 

 turns short and forms a large bend to the west- 

 ward. At the extremity of this curve, Red river 

 enters the Mississippi, on the west side. This 

 river is large, and extends far into the country 

 in a northwesterly direction. On the banks and 

 vicinity of this river are the thriving and popu- 

 lous settlement of Rapide, Avoyelles, and Natch- 

 itoches. This river is used to communicate with 

 the frontiers of New Mexico. Three miles be- 

 low Red river, on this bend, the bayau ChafFalio 

 runs out with a great rapidity, and is the first 

 large river which leaves the Mississippi, and 

 falls by a separate channel into the Gulf of Mex- 

 ico. Although there is a sufficient depth of 

 water, the navigation is prevented by a prodigious 

 quantity of drift wood, which has formed a float- 

 ing bridge across it, of several miles in lengths 

 This bridge, in some places, is said to be so com- 

 pact and firm, that horses and cattle are driven 

 over it. These obstructions are constantly accu- 

 mulating by the trees and rubbish which are pass- 

 ing into this stream from the Mississippi. 



The great bend is continued below the bayau 

 ChafFalio, until it forms a semicircle ; the river 

 then tends to the southward some distance, 

 where it winds round to the eastward and north- 

 ward, and runs back in a direction nearly oppo- 

 site to its general course, until it comes within 



