JOURNAL 
305 
A great impediment in opening lands on this river, is the dilapi¬ 
dation of the banks, which immediately ensue when the trees 
are cut away, from the rapid current acting upon a light soil of 
a texture extremely loose. It will be found absolutely neces¬ 
sary to leave the trees to stand on the borders of the river. The 
river exceedingly crooked in the course of this day. A num¬ 
ber of plantations on both sides. Having made about fourteen 
miles, we put to shore, after passing a very difficult embarras. 
This word needs some explanation Independent of the cur¬ 
rent of that vast volume of water rolling with great impetuosity* 
the navigation is obstructed by various other impediments. At 
the distance of every mile or two, and frequently at less distant 
intervals, there are embarras , or rafts, formed by the collection 
of trees closely matted, and extending from twenty to thirty 
yards. The current vexed by these interruptions, rushes round 
them with great violence and force. We may now judge what 
U boat encounters in grapling round these rafts. When the oars 
and grapling hooks were found insufficient, the towing line was 
psually resorted to with success. There is not only difficulty 
here, but considerable danger, in case the boat should swing 
round. In bends where the banks fall in, as in llje Mississippi, 
trees lie for some distance out in the river. In doubling points, in 
passing sawyers, difficulties are encountered. The water is ge¬ 
nerally too deep to admit of poling; i£ would be absolutely im¬ 
possible to stem the current further out than a few yards ; the 
boat usually passes about this distance from the bank. Where 
the bank has not been washed steep, which is most usually the 
case, and the ground newly formed, the young trees, of the wil¬ 
low, cotton-wood Sec. which overhang the stream, afford much 
assistance in pulling the boat along with the hands. 
Monday 8 th. The water fell last night as much as it had 
risen. About ten came in sight of a little village N. E. side cal¬ 
led Charette. There are about thirty families here, who hunt, 
and raise a little corn. A very long island lies in the bend in 
which this village is situated. Above this island, passed under 
a gentje breeze, some very handsome bluffs, S. W. side to the 
isle aux Boeufs; they are about one hundred feet high, and ex¬ 
cepting in a few places where rocks appear, covered with oak 
