100 VIEWS OF LOUISIANA 
This embraces an extent of country nearly three times a» 
large as the state of Pennsylvania, and which contains a much 
greater proportion of tillable land. The section north of the 
Missouri, and the one south of the Arkansas, are each sufficient 
to form a considerable state ; but the Osage Purchase, consti¬ 
tutes the principal body of the territory, and may be justly con-? 
sidered, next to the state of Louisiana, the most valuable tract in 
the great valley of the Mississippi. 
A description of the principal rivers, with some account of 
the portions of country watered by them, will give some view 
of this tract: reserving the tract including the settlements for a 
more minute description. 
WHITE RIVER. 
This fine river was little known until lately; it is one of thq 
most considerable in the western country, and will one day be 
important. It was thought to be a stream of very inconsiderable 
magnitude, until explored by capt. Many, of the U. S. army, and 
rendered known from settlements made on it, and from wander* 
ing hunters. It rises in the Hlack mountains, which separate the 
waters of the Arkansas from those of the Missouri and Missis¬ 
sippi. Several qf its branches interlock with those of the Osage 
river, the Maramek) and the St Francis. It is navigable, accord* 
ing to the computation of several hunters with whom I have con¬ 
versed, about twelve hundred miles, without any considerable 
Interruption ; eight hundred of these maybe made with barges, 
the rest with canoes, or smaller boats. The waters of this river 
are clear and limpid, the current gentle, and even in the dri¬ 
est season, plentifully supplied from the numerous and excel¬ 
lent springs which are every wh.ere found. It is not less remark* 
able for the many considerable, rivers which it receives in its 
course, hflack river is the largest of these ; it enters on the N. 
E. side, about four hundred miles up, and is navigable nearly 
five hundred miles, receiving a number of handsome rivers, as 
the Current, Eleven Point, and Spring rivers. The last merits a 
more particular description. It issues forth, suddenly, from an 
immense spring, two hundred yards in width, affording an un¬ 
interrupted navigation to its mouth, contracting its width* 
