the bayou Siard and the bayou Bonne Idee by connecting channels. The latter of these bayous is more than 100 miles in length, and falls into the Riviere aux Bœufs a short distance before it joins the Ouachita, on the east side. Or river, (Riviere aux Bœufs,) the last branch of the Ouachità, issues from the lakes between the rivers Arkansaw and Missouri, and, after a southerly course, unites with the Ouachita, in latitude 31° 45'. The course of the river is estimated at 240 miles, and it is navigable as far north as the Prairie Mer Rouge. During the spring floods, which cover the swamps, the waters of this river are stagnant to a considerable dis tance above its mouth. Fourteen miles below the Boeuf river, the Ouachita unites with the Tensaw and Ocatahoolu. To this point, where its channel is crossed by a ledge of rocks, it is always navigable. The Ocatahoolu river is formed of several branches, which intersect the country between the Ouachita and Saline rivers; and after the union of these, the Ocatahoolu takes an eastern direction, and, before joining the Black river, passes through a lake of the same name, which has from ten to fifteen feet of water in the rainy season, but in summer is dry and covered with grass. The Tensaw, which unites with Black river opposite to the junction of the Ocatahoolu, is formed of two branches, the Tensaw and Maçon, which run in a southern direction, and unite to the east of the land called Sicily Island. The former issues from a small piece of water called Stack Lake, near the north-eastern angle of the state, the other from Grand Lake, situated a little above the northern line of limits.

After the union of these three branches, the Ouachita, Tensaw, and Ocatahoolu, the stream has the name of Black river, which it preserves to its union with Red river, a course of thirty miles, in which the current is gentle, and the channel sufficiently deep for the navigation of large boats throughout the year. From the mouth of this river to the junction of Red river with the Mississippi, the distance is but thirty miles. During the swell of the Red river and Mississippi, the waters of Black river accumulate, and prevent the regular discharge of those of the Ouachita and Tensaw, which, in 1811, 1812, and 1813, overflowed their banks, and inundated many places in the parish of Concordia. The waters which, during the spring floods, escape from the Mississippi by the numerous lagoons or outlets below the river Arkansaw, run into the bayou Maçon and Tensaw rivers, and through the Black and Red rivers to the parent stream.

The Sabine river, which forms the western boundary of the state, as high as the thirty-second degree of latitude, has its origin in the extensive plains to the north-west of Natchitoches, and discharges itself into the Gulf of Mexico, through the Sabine lake, in 29° 23' of north latitude, and in 93° 57' west from Greenwich, or 16° 57' from Washington city. The distance of its outlet from that of the Mississippi is 250 miles in a straight line. The lake, which commences at the distance of twelve miles from its mouth, is twentyfive miles long, and from ten to twelve wide. At the distance of thirty-five miles from its mouth, it receives

the Natches, a considerable stream, which comes from the west. The Sabine river is said to be navigable 280 miles. In ordinary tides there is but four feet water on the bar at its outlet; and a few miles below the Indian villages, the navigation is interrupted by a mass of trees intermixed with earthy substances. Pearl river (which forms the eastern limit of the state from the thirty-first parallel of latitude to its mouth) rises in the country of the Choctaw Indians, near the thirty-third degree of latitude, runs a south-western course for fifty or sixty miles, and then nearly south 150 miles, to its outlet in Lake Borgne. Several streams enter on the western side, the largest of which, the Bogue Chitto, is eighty miles in length, and falls in twenty miles from the Rigolets, or channels through which the Pearl empties its waters into Lake Borgne, a little to the east of Lake Ponchartrain. There is seven feet water at the entrance of Pearl river, and, though impeded by shallows and logs of timber, which encumber the channel near the lake, it might easily be rendered navigable for boats 150 miles, and for sloops seventy-five miles from its mouth. The eastern parts of the state, between the Pearl river and the Mississippi, are watered by the Chefuncti, Tangipao, Tickfah, Amite, and Ibberville, or Manchac. The Chefuncti runs by a southern course, of forty miles, into Lake Ponchartrain, and is boatable thirty miles. Six or seven miles above its en

*So called from a species of pearl found in the mussels which abound in its waters.

trance, there is a fine harbour and establishment called Madisonville, with sufficient depth of water for any vessel that can pass the Rigolets. The Tagipao runs south, nearly parallel with the former, into Lake Ponchartrain, which it joins ten miles north-east of the pass of Manchac. 3. The Tickfah runs in the same direction, from the northern boundary, to Lake Maurepas. It is thirty-five miles long. 4. The Amite rises in the state of Mississippi, above the thirty-first degree of latitude, and runs a course of fifty miles, nearly south, to its junction with the Ibberville; and thence forty miles east to Lake Maurepas, into which its waters are discharged. It has several considerable branches. Vessels drawing six feet water ascend to the junction of the Ibberville, and smaller craft to that of the Comite. 5. The Ibberville, or Manchac, is an outlet for the high waters of the Mississippi, and runs from this river, twenty miles below Baton Rouge, to the Amite river, a distance of fifteen miles, and thence into Lake Maurepas. During three months of the year it is navigable for vessels not drawing more than three feet water. The other nine months it loses its waters, from its junction with the Mississippi to the entrance of the Amite, a distance of twenty miles. Were it constantly navigable, it would afford a shorter communication with the eastern states than by New Orleans.* The Ibberville receives three streams near

*See Pittman, who has given a draught of this channel, (on the Kk

VOL. II.

ly opposite Pointe Coupée, Thompson's, Alexander's, and the Bayou Sara creeks.

Of the rivers which flow into the Gulf of Mexico, between the Mississippi and Sabine, the eastmost is Lafourche river, or bayou, which is fed from the Mississippi, and is merely a channel about 120 miles long, by which a part of the waters of that great stream escapes to the sea. Its efflux from the right bank of the Mississippi is in latitude 30° 7', and longitude 91° from London, where it is about 80 yards wide, increasing to 100 as it approaches the gulf. There is nine feet water on the bar at its mouth, and for fifty miles above this its depth is greater. It receives no stream in all its course. 2. The Chaffalio, or Atchafalaya, another outlet of the Mississippi, runs from a remarkable bend of this river on the thirty-first degree of latitude, three miles below the mouth of Red river to the Atchafalaya bay in the Gulf of Mexico, a course of 193 miles following the stream, and 133 in a direct line. It is believed that this channel was formerly the continuation of Red river. It recedes from the Mississippi in the first fifty miles of its course, and afterwards approaches within seven miles of it; and at this point it is again connected with the river by a channel called the Bayou Plaquemines; and the island inclosed by these streams, which is about thirty miles broad, and sixty long, includes the two parishes of Point Coupée and West Baton Rouge. This island is intersected by several Bayous which are fed by the Mississippi. From

scale of a French league to an inch,) from the Mississippi to Lake Ponchartrain.