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Show EMIGRANT'S GUIDE ~ nea'll, and particularly, whatever other differences may exist, the water is uniformly plt--ntiful and good . ConsidereJ geologically. this peninsula is below 33° N. lat. intersected by one chain of high hills, which proj e ctin~ several embranclJw ments, form the natural outline of the country. At the interFf:'ction of the northernmost part of the 33° N. Jat. and 16° W. Jon. from W ::~ shington, a bold and considerably elevated ridge enters the state of Louisiana, ~mJ about fifteen miles wit.hin the -.tate di"'ides into three branches. The western branch be ars :l little west of south, l!le· parates the waters that flow into Dacheet river and lake Bistineau, from those which enter Black lake ri ver; flnally sinks 1n to the low }anus of Red river near 32 ,N. lat. The middle brancb runs nearly south after departing from the main ridge; disch arges its water west· warJ into Black lake ri ver, and eastward into Saline riv-er; find merges into the low lands near the junction of those latter streams. 'l;he third or eastern ridge diver~es from the point of separation bearing S. E., and continuing that course eight or ten miles, divides in to two riuges; which may be, from their relative position, denomina ted ~outbern and northeastern. The former, or southwestern, seems to be a continuatiou of the main chaio, as in ali its length it forms the divi· cling ridge between the water! that flow southwest into Red river, from those which are discharge-d southeast into the Out1chitta river. After leaving the northeastern branch, the southwestern bears south· west ·twenty miles ; graduaJiy inclines to the south ; continues that course to the. 3'i0 N. lat. where it curves a I ittle east of south · an• obeying very nearly the generaJ course of ·Red river, finally ;errninah.> 8 upon the left shore of that stream. at the Ecor a Chene about fifteen miles S. E. of the towN of Ale,xandria. The north~astern branch, bearing sou.theast between the waters of Derbane and those of the Dugdomoni and Little rivers, reaches within two miles of the ~uachitta at 32° 18' N. lat. ; then foll ows that river, preserving a (hstan~e of two or three miles from its margin: fin ally sinks into the level alluvion ·at the court -house of Ocatahoola at 31° 42' N. lat. ~eaving the alluvial banks of Red river and traversing the rugged reg10n, we have been describing, the traveller will aaain find himself Olll ~ fertile. recent alluvion on passing Ouachitta rive~. 1 hough tL; banks are gentrally composed of Jight materials brought <1o":n. by the stream, the_ Ouachitta, ·except on time& of high flood, exhtbtts a ~lear an? beautiful current flowing gently, and on a smaller scale, havmg considerable resemblance to the Ohio. The Ouachitta was, before the expedition of Mr. William Dunbar and Dr. Hunter in 18.04, but ~e ry ~mperfectly known. These gentlemen explored it to !he h.ot spnngs m 34° 30' N. Jat. <~nd procured such information of lls tn_butar:y strea~ ~' as to enable ~hem to publish the history of tbis ~ne rt Vf'~ lll ~ons1derable detail and great accuracy, as far as their mformatwn. extended. The author pf this treatise traver~ed the cou~try a.UJiCent to the Ouachitt.a twice, as hiuh as 33° N. lat. and avatled h Jf. t' . 6 . !mse o every opportumty tp procure information respect· mdg}he nver, country, soil, vegetable and mineral productiom. In a <tmQ· to th · t· · · 9 e m ormatwn gtTen by :Messieurs Dunbar and Hunter~. ' . £MIGRANT'S GUIDE. nis bwn researches, the following sketches may convey a tolerable accurate conception of the Ouachitta and its tribut~ries. . . From the best information , the extreme source of the Ouachttta us , in 18° JO' W. lou. from Wa£bington city, and at 34° N. lat. The courses of the higher streams of the Ouachitta is first southeast sixty or geventy miles ; then east one hundred miles, where three branches unite ; and continuing east twenty miles, receives from the northeast Hot Spring creek. This place is in itself remarkable, but has been rendered an object of peculiar. interest, as being the only part of this remote region that has been carefully examined by men of science. The re ~ e arcbes of Mr. Dunbar and Dr. Hunter has established the geological structure of the country near the hot springs to be composed of secondary materials, schistose sand stone. The Masserne mountains, out of which the Ouachitta flows. are ascertained to be not very eleva· ted ; but not having ever been surveyeJ with accuracy, their compo .. nent parts are unknown with any precision. The country watered by the head streams of the Ouachitta is sterile prairi6, or broken, rocky, mountainous land. The hot springs are mi the south side of the mountains, the adj acent country also barren. Some very confined tracts of good land does exist along the streams, but not in quantity sufficient to aJmit a numerous population. In addition to the alubrity of the water, this elevated regwn is described as extremely healthful. Valitudinariaus from Loui.siana, Arka~saw, and Mississippi, have been generally relieved, when labmning under pulmonary complaints: how much of the cure was attributable to chauge of air and. relief from the anxiety of business,. it ·is .difficult to say. BeJow the mouth of Hot Spring creek, Ouachitta turns to the south, and flowing in that direction twenty ·five miles, receive~ from the west the Fourcheau Cado; anu about a similar distance farther to the south, the Little Mi ~souri river. These two tributary streams ri se in the spurs of the Masserne; and flowing nearly ea·st, waters considerable spaces of good land. Some prairies, but not of con ~ iderable extent, are interspe.rsed over the surface of the country, and are generally composed of poor, thin soil. Twelve miles southeast of the hot springs rises the Saline branch of Ouachitta ; which , after a course of one hundrcJ and. fi fty miles, enters Ouachitta a sho rt Jistauce abo\'e the north limit of Louisian::1 The land upon the Saliue is ge nerally thin and pnor. About thirty miles southeast of the heads of the Saline is the source of the Barthelemy ; which pur. uing a cour~ e nearly pl\rallcl to the f'Ormer, joins Ouachitta at 3'i0 40' N lat. The B a rtL ~I emy is borde~ed on each side uy an exceJlent bouy of land, P?rti ,ularly ~l~ar Its mouth. Before entering the Ouachitta the Barth elemy is J ~med by an ancient outlet of the fo rmer ~trea m. Here may be con ~ stdered the commencement of the recent alluvion. The outl et men· t i~rted a?ove is denominated Bayou Siard ; which after continuing, With all 1ts windings, about twenty- five ·miles, falJs into Ouachitta three mile above Fort Miro. . Extending~. E. f~om Bayou Siard and Ouachitta river, lies the land arant~d by the Span1sh government to the bar n ef Ba:3tro . As th is • • |
