FACE OF COUNTRY* Ssc.—BOOK I. 
3 $ 
great reservoir, should not be so well watered. This deficiency, 
is another amongst the impediments to the settlement of that 
vast waste. 
According to the boundaries before laid down, Louisiana is 
at least, one third larger than the rest of the United States, and 
contains little short of one million and an half square miles. But 
we should be greatly deceived if in estimating its importance 
we take into view only its geographical extent. Constituting the 
central or interior part of North America, the greater portion 
of it, is at too remote a distance from the ocean to have an easy 
and advantageous communication with the rest of the world.—* 
When compared to other parts of America it may be consider¬ 
ed as badly watered, and devoid of that facility of intercourse 
from navigable rivers which they possess. I am to be under¬ 
stood, as speaking of Louisiana generally; there are exceptions 
to these general observations: the territory of the Missouri, and 
the state of Louisiana, are amply sufficient to make amends for 
the unpromising character of the remainder, they may be justly 
reckoned amongst the most interesting portions of the American 
empire. 
From what has been already said, it will be seen that the pre>» 
vailing idea of those western regions, being like the rest of the 
United. States, susceptible of cultivation, and affording endless 
out-lets to settlements, is erroneous. These out-lets when com¬ 
pared to the extent of country are extremely limited; they are 
much less considerable than on the eastern side of the Missis^ 
sippi. The natives will probably remain in quiet and undisturb¬ 
ed possession, for at least a century, for until our country be¬ 
comes in some degree surcharged with population, there is 
scarcely any probability of settlers venturing far into those re¬ 
gions. A different mode of life, habits altogether new and suit¬ 
ed to the situation, would have to be adopted. Settlements would 
have to be strung along water courses at such distances from 
each other, that they could not protect themselves from the wan¬ 
dering- tribes. The distance from, market, and the difficulties of 
reaching it, would render the agricultural produce of little or n© 
value. Yet, I am convinced, that did not the Indians possess it, 
there would in a very short time, be many small groups of set- 
