104 
\*[EWS OF LOUISIANA. 
•when these countries, become settled, the produce, fifty ©r sixty 
miles west of the Mississippi, will be carried to market by those 
channels. In the summer floods, there is an almost continued 
connection, between the lakes east of the St Francis, by means 
of these ; at that period, a person may go from this river, to 
New Madrid. 
In leaving the upland country, at Cape Girardeau, we enter 
what has been called the, great swatnji : though it does not pro¬ 
perly possess this character. The timber is not such as is usual¬ 
ly found in swamps, but fine oak, ash, olive, linn, beech, and pop¬ 
lar of enormous growth. The soil a rich black loam. In the fall, 
it is nearly dry; the road which passes through, being only mud¬ 
dy in particular spots: but during the season of high water, it 
is extremely disagreeable crossing it. The horse sinks at every 
step, to the belly in water and loose soil; and in places entirely 
covered, the traveller, but for the marks on the trees, would be 
in danger of losing the road altogether. This swamp is sixty 
miles in length, and four broad, widenning as it approaches the 
St. Francis. In the season of high water, the Mississippi and the 
river just mentioned, have a complete connection by means of 
this low land. 
After crossing the swamp, there commences, a ridge of high 
land, running in the same course, and on the Mississippi, bound* 
ing what is called Tywapety bottom: this ridge,in approaching 
the St. Francis westward, subsides. In passing over it, we ap¬ 
pear to be in a hilly country, possessing springs and rivuletsj 
the soil, though generally poor and sandy, is tolerably well tim¬ 
bered, and not altogether unfit for tillage. 
After passing this high land, we enter again the level plain. 
The road crosses two lakes, one of which, forms the Bayou St. 
John, at New Madrid; the other is connected with lakes to the 
'westward. They are four or five feet deep, and several hundred 
yards wide, with clean sandy bottoms. These lakes are formed 
'by the rivulets of the upland before described; they rise or fall 
but little. During the fall season, they are the resort of vast 
numbers of wild fowl, and are full of fish. 
The traveller, now enters a perfect level, alternately prairie, 
and beautiful woods of tall oak, walnut, mulberry, sassafras, ho- 
