
          interesting of any. In conformity with your request I shall 
immediately write to Dr. Hale. Some general account 
of the section of country in which I now am may 
prove interesting (my knowledge is only partial). 
That portion of the Parish of Natchitoches south of 
Red River after leaving the immediate valey [valley] of that 
river becomes hilly & broken & is of the formation 
termed secondary by geologists. The most prominent 
rock formation is sandstone & in this vicinity the 
old red sand stone abounds upon the highest 
elevations. Another rock formation is silicous [siliceous] rock 
containing lime found in the bottoms & on the sides 
of the runs of water. In this vicinity the country 
is extremely broken & the ravines between the hills 
deep. Coal is found [crossed out: by] in the bank of a creek 
15 miles of Natchitoches & of good quality. It is also 
found near the Sabine in the bottoms & banks of 
creeks & also the banks of the Sabine. Within 3 
miles of this is a salt spring (& a very abundant one). 
Salt has been made at it in a rude way. It arrises [arises] 
in a flat prairie containing 15 or 20 acres & forms a 
brook of considerable size. The grasses resemble those 
on the seaboard & may some of them be the same. 
The plant I denominated a Rhus in my last 
from recollection is probably an Ampelopsis. It is a 
scandent plant & supports itself by tendrils found 
in a copse of cow bushes. I send a specimen of 
the diandrous plant the only perfect specimen 
that I have lift. I gave many specimens to Nutall [Nuttall], 
Dr. Wray, Dr. Boykin & others. I have an opportunity 
        