102 



Few countries exhibit a more delightful appear- 

 ance than this settlement. The plantations are 

 extremely beautiful, and the soil exceedingly 

 rich. The cotton raised here is of the best qual- 

 ity in Louisiana. The corn and tobacco are very 

 good, as are all kinds of vegetables. The orange 

 and fig trees grow luxuriously, and the climate is 

 delightful. 



At the Rapide is a fall of water, occasioned by 

 a soft rock which crosses the bed of the river, so 

 that from July to December there is not suffi- 

 cient water for boats to pass over, but the rest of 

 the season they pass with ease. This rock is so 

 very soft, as not much to exceed, in hardness, 

 some kinds of hard clay, and it is presumed a 

 passage might be cut through it, with very little 

 difficulty, so as to make it as low as the bed of the 

 river. 



From the Rapide to the Indian villages is 

 about twenty miles, with very few settlements for 

 the whole distance, although the land is fine, and 

 susceptible of all kind of cultivation. The Indian 

 villages are pleasantly situated on both sides of 

 the river, and the land very good. Just above 

 these villages is Gillarcfs station, on an high pine 

 bluff, which, on the east side, overlooks extensive 

 fields and meadows, in a good state of cultivation, 

 and affords a view of a very long reach of the river. 

 Here is an excellent spring of water, gushing out 

 from an aperture in a rock on the bank of the 

 river, about high water mark. Back from the 



