98 
road ran through an uneven prairie, upon which many cattle 
pastured. After a ride of eight miles, we came into a forest, 
which lasted all the way to the Missouri. The country was 
pretty hilly, the forest consisted of green-leaved timber, oaks, 
and various nut-bearing trees, of Canadian poplars, and much 
sumach. On most of the trees, climbing plants mounted over 
them, wild vines, and ivy. There was hardly any sign of the 
spring here yet: the vegetation was still as backward as at that 
period of the year in Flanders. This made no very friendly 
impression upon us, who had just arrived from New Orleans, 
where it had long been summer. In the woods we found several 
solitary inclosures, made by worm-fences. Wheat, oats, and 
Indian corn were raised here. The cattle, and the numerous 
swine bivouacked in the woods, and were obliged to take care 
of themselves. There are a number of emigrants from the 
eastern states, also Germans, established here in Missouri, who 
have purchased the land from government for one dollar and a 
half per acre, and made it arable. Most of them, however, repent 
of this proceeding; on account of the small population of this 
state, and the want of a market, they cannot dispose of their 
produce. We also passed a little village “ the station,” and 
afterwards had nearly been lost in the forest, as our coachman 
knew nothing of the road. The road was marshy and very 
bad; and to complete our misfortune the night shut in. One of 
our companions betook himself to his knowledge of astronomy, 
and wished to steer us by the pole star. I trusted more to my 
judgment of localities, and opposed all learned demonstrations. 
My other companion voted with me, and therefore we proceeded 
by my guidance, and I had the glory of finding the true road, 
for we arrived at half-past ten o’clock at night, on the right bank 
of the Missouri, opposite St. Charles, at Chauvin’s ferry. 
The way had latterly become so bad, that to prevent accidents, 
we proceeded on foot. It was too late to cross the river to St. 
Charles; we therefore had a frugal supper prepared for us at the 
ferry-house, and passed the night in a little garret-room. The 
country in the neighbourhood of the confluence of the Missouri 
and Mississippi, cannot in any manner be healthy; in the summer 
bilious fevers prevail, and in the winter, what they call the in¬ 
fluenza, which has shown itself in most of the northern states. 
It consists of a very severe cough, joined with rheumatic symp¬ 
toms. If the disease be neglected, death may be the consequence. 
To my no small alarm and dissatisfaction, one of our chamber as¬ 
sociates was very much affected with this influenza, and another 
stranger, who slept in the next apartment, was visited by this 
malady likewise; so that we were fated to hear a most annoying 
cough duett. 
