160 VIEWS OF LOUISIANA. 
to two branches, which unite within ten miles of Natchi¬ 
toches. The eastern branch retains the name of the river, is 
the most considerable, but obstructed by the great raft. A ba¬ 
you which makes out on the east side of this branch, spreads 
out into lake Bestianeaii, and afterwards joins the main stream. 
The western branch does not flow in a well defined channel, 
but at short intervals, spreads out into lake Pisaquie, lake Mai- 
doux, and lake Long, connected on the east side by bayou Pierre 
(properly a continuation of the W. branch) and immediately be¬ 
fore the junction of the two branches, the W. branch, by a 
refluent bayou, contributes with the streams from the upland 
in forming the lake Espagnoi.* The island, or tract, enclos- 
ed by the two branches, is of an oval form, and not less than 
Chree hundred miles in circumference; a considerable part is 
said to consist of low sunken lands, but there must doubt¬ 
less be a large portion of a superior quality. Immediately 
below the village of Natchitoches, the river again separates 
into three branches, the middle one being the principal. The 
eastern is called Fausse riviere, (False river) and is connect¬ 
ed with several lakes to the N. E. of it. The western branch 
is called the river of the Post, and has on its S, W side 
a number of lakes formed partly by its own refluent waters, and 
those of the upland streams: the lake a Case is the largest of 
these. Between this and the middle branch, several islands! are 
formed by the connecting bayoux. In times of high water there 
is but little difference in the size of these three branches; the ri¬ 
ver of the Post has been preferred on account of the distance be.- 
ing shorter, but the middle branch is much the clearest, though 
nothing more than a deep gut or bayou, twenty or thirty yards 
in width, scarcely sufficient for a long barge to turn round. The 
principal settlement of Natchitoches, is situated upon it, and 
forms an almost continued village for forty or fifty miles. The 
Water never rises so as to render it necessary to add to the na- 
* This i^, more or less the case with all the lakes in the vicinity of 
Bed river. The streams from the high, or primitive ground, are extreme¬ 
ly well supplied with water. 
f Amongst others the isle of the Natchez, where that unfortunate 
people made their last stapd. 
