BOUNDARIES, SURFACE &c—BOOK IX. 16? 
tural banks. These branches re-unite fifteen or twenty miles 
above the Rapides. The Red river receives from the N. E. Side 
lake Yae, which discharges itself by the rivers Rara and Mar- 
teau. From the re-union of these branches, the river pursues a 
tolerably well defined course to the Mississippi, losing its waters 
by only two or three bayoux, and not forming any considerable 
lakes. Bayou Boeuf, which is formed partly by a large stream 
from the upland, and partly from the waters of Red river, may 
he regarded as the boundary of the Red river alluvion in that 
quarter. 
In casting the eye over the map, it will be seen that a trian¬ 
gle is formed, of which bayou Boeuf is the base, and Red rivet* 
and the Mississippi the two sides. It is in this triangle that 
the largest body of low sunken lands, are to be found in the state, 
particularly in the angle of Mississippi and Red river, and round, 
the curious island of Avoyelle. From marks on the trees, it ap¬ 
peared to me that the land had been overflowed to the depth of 
ten feet. The Avoyelle is a body of primitive ground, about thirty 
miles in circumference, the growth similar to that of West Flo¬ 
rida, in the neighborhood of the Mississippi; the soil is not re¬ 
markably rich, but affords a handsome settlement. The Atcha- 
faluya of Avoyelle, flows through the triangle, in a course paral¬ 
lel to the bayou Boeuf, and is without any settlement; the land 
low. The lands on the bayou Boeuf, particularly on the upper 
part of it, are amongst the best in the state, commonly of two 
miles in width, covered with impenetrable thickets of cane; 
the soil extremely rich, of a red color, similar to that on the At- 
chafalaya of Red river. Of late years, several settlements have 
been formed in this bayou, and the lands were growing into high 
repute previous to the depreciation in the price of cotton. The 
Ihnds on the Atchafalaya of Red river, are of nearly the same 
quality, but do not possess the same depth.* There are still but 
few settlers. Its navigation is interrupted by rafts and other ob* 
structions. 
The valley of Red river is susceptible of a very wealthy and 
extensive population; with the exception of the triangle before 
*■ The grant of the United States, to the Marquis de la Fayette ftfte 
been chiefly located on this bayou. 
