Cll 
LIFE OF 
intermediate space exhibiting wild perpendicular precipices of 
brown earth. This part of the river and shore is the general 
rendezvous of all the arks, or Kentucky boats, several hundreds of 
which are at present lying moored there, loaded with the produce 
of the thousand shores of this noble river. The busy multitudes 
below present a perpetually varying picture of industry ; and the 
noise and uproar, softened by the distance, with the continued 
crowing of the poultry with which many of those arks are filled, 
produce cheerful and exhilarating ideas. The majestic Mississippi, 
swelled by his ten thousand tributary streams, of a pale brown 
colour, half a mile wide, and spotted with trunks of trees, that 
shew the different threads of the current, and its numerous eddies, 
bears his depth of water past in silent grandeur. Seven gun-boats, 
anchored at equal distances along the stream, with their ensigns 
displayed, add to the effect. A few scattered houses are seen on 
the low opposite shore, where a narrow strip of cleared land 
exposes the high gigantic trunks of some deadened timber that 
bounds the woods. The whole country beyond the Mississippi, 
from south round to west and north, presents to the eye one 
universal level ocean of forest, bounded only by the horizon. 
So perfect is this vast level, that not a leaf seems to rise above the 
plains, as if shorn by the hands of heaven. At this moment, while 
I write, a terrific thunder-storm, with all its towering assemblage 
of black alpine clouds, discharging lightning in every direction, 
overhangs this vast level, and gives a magnificence and sublime 
effect to the whole.” 
In June, Wilson reached New Orleans, and, sailing from thence 
to New York, again entered Philadelphia, after a very long and 
arduous journey; during which he experienced many difficulties 
from the season and climate, the wildness of the paths, and from 
a sickness which had nearly proved fatal, but which his still good 
constitution, and the simple prescription of an Indian, bore him 
safely through. He nevertheless procured much information, and 
new materials for his work, besides keeping up an extensive 
correspondence with his friends, and. regularly entering in a diary 
the events of each day. From this, and the corresponding 
account of Mr Audubon, we learn that these ornithologists first 
