THE MISSISSIPPI. 
55 
upon that as one river which flows from Lake 
Ontario to the sea; for before it meets the 
ocean it passes through four large lakes, not 
indeed to be compared with those of Erie or 
Superior, in size, but they are independent lakes 
notwithstanding, as much as any of the others. 
The Mississippi is principally to be admired for 
• the evenness of its current, and the prodi¬ 
gious length of way it is navigable, without 
any interruption, for bateaux of a very large 
burthen; but in many respects it is a very in¬ 
ferior river to the St. Lawrence, properly so 
called. The Mississippi at its mouth is not 
twenty miles broad, and the navigation is there 
so obstructed by banks or bars, that a vessel 
drawing more than twelve feet water cannotas- 
cend it without very imminent danger. These 
bars at its mouth or mouths, for it is divided 
by several islands, are formed by large quan¬ 
tities of trees that come drifting down from the 
upper country, and when once stopped by any 
obstacle, are quickly cemented together by the 
mud, deposited between the branches by the 
waters of the river, which are uncommonly 
foul and muddy, Fresh bars are formed, or 
the old bars are enlarged every year, and it is 
said, that unless some steps are taken to prevent 
the lodgments of the trees annually brought 
down at the time of the inundation, the navi- 
