POLITICAL DIVISIONS, &c.—BOOK II. 115 
In the district of St. Charles, the settlements are also consi¬ 
derable. They extend up the Missouri, nearly two hundred 
miles. Though between the more considerable groups, the plan¬ 
tations are thinly scattered. Charrette, is the next village after 
St. Charles, about fifty miles above ; it is composed of ten or 
twelve French families, who live close together, after the ancient 
custom. There are about forty families on Salt river, above this', 
who live in the American mode. At the Otter island, there is a 
settlement, large enough to afford a company of militia. Below 
the Osage river, but within sight, on the opposite side of the 
Missouri, there is a French village of about twenty families ; it 
is called Cote sans Dessein. But far the best settlement on the 
Missouri, is that near the Mine river, on the N. E side of the 
river, and extending about six miles along the bank. There are 
here about eighty families; some engaged in working salines on 
the river before mentioned. Several of them have slaves. They 
will be completely able to defend themselves against any Indians 
that may be dreaded in this quarter. There are some good set¬ 
tlements on the riviere de Cuivre, near the mouth; but they are 
much scattered in the forks of the Missouri. A man who was 
up through that country last summer, for the purpose of look¬ 
ing at the land, told me, that he found five families near the heads 
of the Cuivre; sixty or seventy miles distant from any other set¬ 
tlement: he happened on this group when he had not the most 
distant expectation of meeting with any one. In case of Indian 
war, these poor stragglers will most probably be butchered, un¬ 
less fortunate enough to escape into the settlements. 
The district of New Madrid is but thinly inhabited, consider¬ 
ing the great proportion of fine land, which it contains. There 
are some good farms in the neighbourhood of the village. There 
are also some Settlements on the St. Francis, on the banks of the 
Mississippi, and through the prairies towards Cape Girardeau : 
particularly on the public road. I travelled over it when it was 
a wilderness ; the contrast even now, is pleasing: some one who 
passes here at a future day, will find still greater cause of won- 
