COUNTRY EAST OF RED RIVER. 



167 



to institute a comparison between this and any other 

 portion of the adjacent country through which the Indian 

 might guide me. 



" The first day I was able only to go about fourteen 

 miles — two-thirds of this distance at least being through 

 marsh and wet prairie. The general course was along the 

 picket-line, from which I was obliged to diverge frequently 

 — sometimes a mile or more, but always keeping it in view 

 — in order to avoid, when possible, the wide marshes 

 through which it passes. The next day I continued in 

 the same direction, and having reached a point opposite 

 the 22nd mile-post, on the picket-hne, I could go no 

 further, being stopped by a swamp or quagmire, impas- 

 sable for horses, or even men, extending in front for many 

 miles, and on both sides as far as the eye could reach. 

 Though taking advantage of all the dry places within 

 reach, ten miles of the course I took lay through marsh 

 and wet land, and five miles at least through swamp. 

 There are a few small clumps of young aspens along the 

 line, and low willows in some of the marshes ; but far 

 away towards the north may be seen some clumps of 

 larger trees. 



" The land is, for the most part, a rich loam, with a 

 subsoil of sandy clay ; but the difficulty, or rather the im- 

 possibility of draining the numerous swamps and marshes, 

 and the want of timber, render this tract of country unfit 

 for settlement ; and for the same reasons, the difficulty of 

 constructing a suitable road through it would be very 

 considerable, and the expenses enormous. 



" Judging, then, that I had seen enough of this part of 

 the country for my purposes, I retraced my steps to the 

 settlement, from which I set out again, under the guidance 

 of the Indian, who promised to conduct me by the only 



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