NORTH AMERICA. 
425 
with civility, entreating me to refide with him ; but 
being impatient to get to the river, and pleading 
the neceffity of profecuting my travels with alacrity, 
on account of the feafon being fo far advanced, I 
was permitted to proceed, and fet off next morn- 
ing. Still afcending the Amite about twenty miles 
farther, arrived at the forks, where the Iberville 
comes in on the left hand, afcending which a little 
way, we foon came to the landing, where are ware- 
houfes for depofiting merchandize, this being the ex- 
tremity of navigation up this canal, and here fmall 
veflels load and unload. From this place to Man- 
chac, on the banks of the Miffifhppi, juft above the 
mouth of the canal, is nine miles by land ; the 
road draight, fpacious, and perfedlly level, under the 
fhadow of a grand fared ; the trees of the fird order 
in magnitude and beauty, as Magnolia grandi- 
flora, Liriodendron tulipifera, Platanus, Juglans 
nigra, Fraxinus excelfior. Morns rubra, Laurus 
faffafras, Laurus Borbonia, Tilea, Liquidambar 
flyraciflua, &c. 
At evening arrived at Manchac, when I diredted 
my deps to the banks of the Midiffippi, where I dood 
for a time as it were fafeinated by the magnificence 
of the great fire * of rivers. 
The depth of the river here, even in this feafon, 
at its lowed ebb, is aftonifhing, not lefs than forty 
fathoms ; and the width about a mile or fomewhat 
lefs : but it is not expanfioil of furface alone that 
drikes us with ideas of magnificence 5 the altitude 
and theatrical afeents of its penfile banks, the dea~ 
dy courfe of the mighty flood, the trees, high fo- 
reds, even every particular objedt, as well as focie- 
ties. 
* Which is the meaning of the word MihTiflippi. 
