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Show • •• 10'0 Platanus o'ccidentalis, Q.uercu~ alba, Q.11ercus rubra, Q.uercus tinctoria,* Quercus nigra, Tilia Pubescens, Robinia pseud acacia, Ulmus Americana, Ulmus rubra, Syc,amofe, White oak, Red oak, Black oak9- Bli:!ck oak, Linden , Locu ~ t,t :Mucilaginous elm, Red elm. The liriodend'ron migLt le\Ve been enumerated, but the tree is not' plentiful. On the streams the la rge cane affords extensive brakes, but is yielding to the united action of fi re and cattle. The land included in the grant made to the marquis Maison Rouge, lies along both banks of Ouachi tta ; commencing about five miles below Fort Mira, and extending down· t h~ stream, following its bends upwards of forty miles. Some small grants were made on land on Ouachitta,. and the l.and occupied previous to the date of this grant, but n?t ot .any considerable . extent. The greatest part of the land contamed m the graht rernams vacant. No soil in Louisiana is superior to this part of. the banks of the Ouachitta. Cotton is yet the s!aple, and produced m great quan tity in proportion to the ground cul· trvated . . The ~urfac~ . of the country is variegated, and presents soil of very d1fferent qual1t1es. That part which lies east of the Ouachitta is perfectly similar to tbe other alluvial lands of Louisiooa : an arable border o~ from two hundred yards to half a mile wide, skirts the slre<\m: m the rear of this rich selv~ge of productive soil the overflowed f'urface commences, and continues indefinitely towards tho Bon Idee river. . On. the ".'est si~e of Ouachitta the river is also b rdered ·by a .mar~ gm ot all.uvial soil, b~t of less .extent than on the cast side. It h~s been noticed, that a n£Jge·of hills connected with tbosP. that di\·ide the w~ters of Red from those of Ouachi tta rivers, winds alon~ the w~st s1de of the l~tter strea~. ':fbis ridge enters Maison Rouge's &rant about ten miles below 1ts h1gher extremity. and continuing to foUow the. general co~rse of the river, runs through the remainder of the land Hl ~es.cendmg the Ouachitta. The front of this ridge is bold and precipitous, facing the river; but declines gradually to the westwa.rd. It may be remarked, that all the water that flows from these hills, descends towards the west, and enters Little river. · * Two V(>ry uistinct species of the oak are in Loul's;ana • d' . . t ly t a 11 •d bl· 1 k 1'h . r.u , m Jscr1mma e ·1 *-· ac' ·o a · f e1 q uercus t1octoria is a most maJ'ect'•c •t·r ee, an d per1 1 ap s ~ s preseAce IS one o t 1e most certaia indications of good land to be met with In the ccn~ntry . T.be common black oak is a less eltwated, more branching, :~~ ~ss ~-~ltua~le tunbe.J_' than the quercus tinctoria; the latter is much more . nfatnb' le. ~~·mer.bemg seldom found in large quantity excerJt near the mar· gm o e pra1r1es. J· Outa Tchh1.et talo caunsdt, Rn odt f.o· und in any part. sou. th Gf Red n·v er, u• p1 e nta" fiu 1 on the river. but Oll Re e.· uv':r. On, Ouacbltla Jt grows only on the banks of that 1~·.i"' ... ·ee ab .. u dd 1 ·~er ts oft~n found s.tattel'ed over the face of the country. -'lS:.I1" • n s 81;:,0 at Natchez. EIUIGRANT'S GUIDEJ ... 101 'rhe timber upon Maison Rouge~s does not materially ditfer from that found on Bastrop's grant. On both the quality, abundance, variety, and convenience of the timber, is one of the most remarka-ble peculiarities of the country. . There are but few places where more pleasant and profitable establishments could be formed than on Ouachitta. The productive alluvion on one bank, and the high pine hills on the opposite shore, afford choice of situation; but few places can equal. The Ouachitta is navigable for large boats at all times of the yeat, except in very dry seasons. Tbe river lan<..ls are extremely ·'"efi adapted to the production of cotton. A question is dem<mded by almost aiJ persons from the eastern and tniddle states, whether this, or aoy other part of Louisiana, affords ~ood mill seats ?-In general, alluvial countries arc too level to admit waterfalJs of any considerable height ; of coBrse, 5uch lands are not productive i(l places where water can be applied to propelJing machinery. It is worthy of remark, that in Louisiana, where the land is fertile, waterfalls are unfn~quent, anu that where they abound the land is sterile. And it may be farthtr remarked, that the usc of steam removes the oecessi1ty of having water ; and admitting indefinite 4:hoice of position, obviates many of the inconveniences of water as an agent in machinery. . These observations on th€ Ouachitta may be concluded, by observ,_. ng that, sugar excepteu, there is no fruit or other vegetable produc~ ion raised in any part of the state of Louisiana or lUississippi, but iliat may be brought to perfection on its banks. The general remarks made upon the Ouachitta, its lands, timber, and vegetable productions, may be extended to the soil upon the banks of Bre uf, Ma~on, and Tensaw.. Wherever the banks of thes~ streams are elevated sufficient for cui ture, cotton may be cons1dered the staple. A reference to the list of di3tances from New Orleans to the bot springs,*" will enable the reader to perceive the co~mercial facilities of the intermediate places . . Th~ time consumed m a voyage from New Orleans to either N akhez or Ouachitta and to return, is about twenty days. ' N umerou~ saw mills exist on the branches of Little river . from -.~hich great quantities of lumber is transported down the ;a.riou3 nvers to New Orleans. Political divisions,-settlements,-to~ns.-Tn the N. W. section of ~he state of Louisi~na , there are parishes ; Natchitoches, Rap ides, Ocata~oola, Ouach1tta, Concordia, and Avoyelles. NA fCHITOCHES embra~es the N. W. angle of the state, lying upon the ~aters of Red, Sabme, a11d Calcasiu rivers ; having Texas ~e.st, Sabme southwest, Opelousas south, Rapides southeast, Oua· ahitta e~st, and the Missouri territory north. N atch1toches town sian us upon the right or west bank of Red· river 31° 46' N. Jat. 16° 7' W. from Washington city. This tu\Vli , o: rather post, was established. in January J 717. The first bui-dings were erec!ed about one mile -to the south of the preient vi llage, The remat.os o.f t-he ol~ fo.rt and of th€' gardens still remai& visible. ~ See page 16 .. |