tion of its two great branches, which are navigable for small boats to a considerable distance, but the western branch has a fall twenty miles from its mouth. When the waters of the Mississippi are high, those of the Yazoo are so accumulated that they overflow their banks, and run off by different channels. Big Black river rises from several sources above the thirty-third degree of latitude in the country of the Chickasaws, and runs a south-west course to the Mississippi, which it joins a little above the thirty-second degree of latitude, about fifty miles above Natchez. In the rainy season it is navigable about seventy miles; but the back current of the Mississippi sometimes sets up twenty miles and creates inundations. The Bayou Pierre runs into the Mississippi forty miles above Natchez; and above this two other streams, called Cole's creek and Catherine's creek, each forty yards wide. Homochitto river rises near Pearl river, south-east of Natchez, and falls into an old channel of the Mississippi above Loftus's heights in latitude 31° 12'. It is a fine stream about sixty yards wide. Buffalo creek, a few miles below the former, is about forty yards wide. In very dry weather these streams are fordable. Cole's creek is a fine stream with a sandy bottom, which, at the distance of fifteen miles from its entrance, divides into two branches. After heavy rains it runs like a torrent, and its branches cannot be easily crossed. Buf falo creek, which takes a western course of thirty miles from ground watered by some of the branches of the Amite, joins the Mississippi just above Loftus's heights, and is forty yards wide, with a deep channel. Cathe

rine's creek, below Natchez, is forty yards wide, and during high water is boatable several miles from its entrance. Two streams fall into the bay of St Louis to the east of Pearl river, called Wolf river and Nassoube-atcha river. Biloxi river falls into the bay of the same name, to the east of that of St Louis. The Tombigbee branch of the Mobile river, which runs along the eastern side of this state, has its source within a few miles of the Mussel Shoals of the Tennessee river, and runs 450 miles to its junction with the Alabama, or eastern branch. . The united streams then take the name of Mobile river, and, after a course of forty-five miles, flow into Mobile bay, which extends thirty miles farther to the Gulf of Mexico, affording an easy navigation for sloops of considerable burden. A number of small streams run into the Tombigbee from the west. Dog creek, four miles above Fort Stoddart; the Chickasaw creek, five miles below; the Bassa Bagrie, near the confluence of the Tombigbee and Alabama; the Opalee river, forty miles above the mouth of the Alabama, the Senelee, Noxabba, Noisy creek, Swan creek, Salabamaby, and Black Warrior. The southern parts of this state, from the Mississippi to the Pearl river, are watered by the head branches of the rivers of Louisiana, the Bayou Sara, Thompson's creek, Amite, Ticfah, Tangipao, Chefuncti, and Bogue Chitto.

Extent of Navigable Waters.-The Mississippi is navigable for 572 miles; Tennessee, upwards of 20, (in this state;) Yazoo and branches, 270; Big Black river, 150; Homochitto, Amite, &c., 170; Pearl and branches, 220; Pascagoula and branches, 250; Bayous

and bays St Louis, Biloxi, Pines, &c., 100; Gulf coast, 120; Tombigbee and Western branches, 600. Total 2472 miles. *

Islands.-A chain of islands run along the coast, known by the following names, Dog, Ship, Cat, Marianne, St Joseph, Malheureuse, Buck island, at the mouth of Biloxi bay, Round island, and others at the mouth of the Pascagoula. None of them are of much importance.

Minerals.-Coal is said to be found on the Tombigbee, Tennessee, Black Warrior, and other streams.

Forest Trees.-The most common are ash, bay, cherry, cypress, cotton wood, gum, hickery, mulberry, magnolia, oak, poplar, plum, black walnut, and pine. The trees along the borders of Pearl river are well adapted for masts, yards, and plank for vessels. About half the surface is covered with pine, which is considered as of the best quality, and grows to a large size, from sixty to eighty, and even a hundred feet, without a branch. Logs are procured from seventy to eighty feet in length, for the construction of cabins. The long-leaved pine prevails from the coast to the northern boundary of the Choctaw territory. The rivers are bordered with trees of the most useful kind, white and live oak, pine, cypress, cedar, black walnut, hickery, locust, magnolia, &c. The cypress grows to a large size in the marshes.

Of live oak and red cedar, so

valuable in ship-building, there is a great quantity near

the water courses.

The cane, which grows to the

* Western Gazetteer, p. 241.

height of twenty or forty feet on all the rich soil, is fron half an inch to two inches in diameter. The best soil is covered with cane, and the meadows with the native or buffalo clover, and rye grass.

Animals.-The animals are the same as in Georgia. Cougouars, wolves, and wild cats, are numerous and de. structive to domestic animals. Bears are also numerous, and do great injury to fruit and grain. Alligators are found in all the waters where there is little current south of the 32d parallel of latitude, and are sometimes seen in the Mississippi river two degrees higher, near the entrance of the Arkansas. They devour hogs, goats, and dogs, when they approach their place of abode. Some of the largest are fifteen feet in length. The salamander, muræna siren, and the gouffre, described under Georgia, are also found here. On the coast are great plenty of oysters, crabs, and lobsters. Parroquets are seen as high as the Bayou Pierre stream of the Mississippi. Wild turkeys and pigeons in great numbers throughout the state. In winter there is a prodigious quantity of water-fowl.

Population in December 1816.

Besides 191 free blacks, most of whom reside in Adams county.

Settlements. This state is among the most recently settled parts of the Union. The population is but small, and much dispersed, but the many advantages of soil, climate, and situation, which the country enjoys, ensure its progress. On the bay of St Louis, twenty-five miles east of the mouth of Pearl river, several French families are established; and the high coast, two miles farther east, is resorted to by the inhabitants of New Orleans during the sickly season. On the bay of Biloxi, twenty-four miles farther distant, at the Pass of Christianne, and along the Pascagoula river, a few miles from the sea, a number of families, of French origin, are established. Along Pearl river, from its mouth to the thirty-first degree of latitude, a distance of nearly eighty miles, there is little population. From Pearl river to the Mississippi, along the line of demarcation between the two states, there are some scattered establishments as far as the branches of the Amite river, between which is traced the town of Liberty. Some of them are flourishing very much consequence of the successful culture of sugar and At the distance of a mile and a half from the boundary, and ten from the river, is situated the village of Pinkneyville, consisting of thirty or forty houses. Fort Adams, situated on Loftus heights, 150

in

cotton.