MISSISSIPPI. 



319 



northeastern corner of the State into Alabama. The Pascagoula^ which rises in the eastern 

 part, and runs into the bay of the same name, after a course of 260 miles, is navigable for 

 small vessels. The Pearl has its source in the centre of the State, and, taking a southerly 

 course, empties itself into the Rigolets, between Lakes Poutchartrain and Borgne. Its navi- 

 gation is impeded by rafts, shallows, and sandbars. 



4. Bays and Islands. Pascagoula Bay, or ratnei- Sound, iS ^fi >niles m length, by 6 in 

 width, with from 10 to 18 feet of water. It communicates with Rlobile Bay by Heron 

 Pass, with Lake Borgne by Christian Pass, and is separated from the Gulf of Mexico by a 

 chain of low, narrow, sandy islands. Biloxi and St. Louis Bays are shallow basins. The 

 Passes or straits admit the passage of vessels drawing 6 feet of water. Lake Borgne lies 

 principally in Louisiana. Ship Island, Cat Island, and Horn Island are sterile banks of sand. 



5. Climate. The winters are several degrees colder than in the Atlantic States of the same 

 latitude, and rarely pass without snow. The summers are long and hot, and long droughts 

 often succeed excessive and protracted rains. Along the rivers, and stagnant waters, it is un- 

 liealthy, but the settled districts are in general healthy, though, even in these, bilious complaints 

 prevail in autumn. 



6. Soil. The greater proportion of the soil is highly fertile ; the southwestern counties 

 contain large tracts of excellent land, and the rivers throughout the State are skirted by belts 

 of a productive soil. The bluff lands are the richest, and the river alluvions are next in 

 point of fertility. Pine barrens constitute a considerable part of the country. 



7. Vegetable Productions. The native trees most commonly occurring are the pnie, various 

 species of oak and hickory, black walnut, beech, persimon, and locust. Buckeye, which in 

 the valley of the Ohio is a forest tree, is here a dwarf ; dogwood and papaw are also com 

 mon, but the cane, which formerly abounded, has in a great measure disappeared. 



POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



I. Divisions. Mississippi is divided into 56 counties.* 



Population at different Periods. 



1810 

 1820 

 1830 

 1837 



Whites, 



42,176 

 70,443 

 144,351 



Slaves, 



32,814 

 65,659 

 164,393 



Total, 31,000 

 " 75,448 

 " 136,621 

 " 309,344 



2. Towns. Natchez is the only large town in the State. It stands principally on a bluff, 

 or high bank upon the Mississippi, 320 miles above New Orleans, and 300 feet above the 

 common level of the stream. The streets are broad, and some of the public buildings are 

 handsome. The business is chiefly confined to the lower town, and this is the chief place in 

 the State for the shipment of cotton. Great numbers of steamboats and river craft are con- 

 tinually arriving and departing. In the rear of the town, the country is variegated and delight- 

 ful, and the hills are clothed with woods and vineyards. The opposite bank of the river in 

 Louisiana, is a vast cypress swamp. Natchez is incorporated as a city ; the insalubrity of the 

 climate has somewhat checked its growth. Population, 8,000. 



Jackson, on Pearl River, is the seat of government. The situation is central, healthy, and 

 agreeable, and it contains the capitol and penitentiary. Population, 1,200. Monticello, on 

 Pearl River, Woodville, on the Bayou Sara, Port Gibson, on the Bayou Pierre, and Grand 



Adams 



Hancock 



Lowndes 



Scott 



Amite 



Hinds 



Madison 



Simpson 



Attala 



Holmes 



Marion 



Smith 



Bolivar 



Itawamba 



Marshall 



Tallahatchie 



Carroll 



Jackson 



Monroe 



Tippah 



Chickasaw 



Jasper 



Neshoba 



Tishamingo 



Choctaw 



Jefferson 



Newton 



Tunica 



Claiborne 



Jones 



Noxubee 



Warren 



Clarke 



Kemper 



Octibbeha 



Washington 



Copiah 



Koahoma 



Perry 



Wayne 



Covington 



Lafayette 



Pike 



Wilkinson 



De Soto 



Lauderdale 



Ponola 



Winston 



Franklin 



Lawrence 



Pontotoc 



Yalabusha 



Greene 



Leake 



^. Rankin 



Yazoo. 



