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Show 102 EMIGRANT'S GUJDE. Natchitoches i"s, and must continue, a place of consideraLle cons!! ... quence. Before the revolutio? commenceJ in Texas in 1 ~ 11, ~n. extensive inland trade was earned on 'between the people ot Lou1 ~ 1an a and those of the Spanish internal provinces, of which this town was the entrepot. This tramc will: be at_some futur~ <.l ~y revive? · ~ few troops are stationed here, wh1ch, w1th tl1e _lnd1 an_ tra.Je, still g•vcs a lively husine s tr.l the village. The t~>wn J_lse lf 1s s1tuated _up~m the alluvial banks of Red river; but the pme hills commence w1thm two hundred yards of the river brink, upon one of which is Fort Clai borne. The waters of Red river are brackish, but some springs of ex cE'l· Jeut water exist in the hills to the west of the town, from which the inhabitants are supplied with that in~ispens ~~le n e ces~ary of life: . Natchitoches is the lara-est town m Lou1s1ana west of the MtssJs· ~ippi . The present number of inhabitants must exceed six hundred, eKdusive of the garrison. . . The parish of Rapides, so called from the French name fur rap1us,. lies southeast of Natchitoches; situated principally in the valley ot Red river, but extending to reach the water~ of Ouachitta ; having Natchitoches northwest, Opelousas south, Avoyelles, Concordia, and Ocatahoola east, and Ocatahoola and Ouach itta north. In quality of soil and general objects of production, this p:ari:lh differs very little from that of N atchitoche~. Alexandria lies on the right or west bank of Red river, half a mile below the rapi.ds, 31° 1 9' N. 15° 28' W. from Washington city. This is a very flourishing village. - At times of low water, standing at the head of barge navigation. The settlements around this town are flourishing and wealthy. It is supposed by many, that Rapides has more valuable land in proportion to its extent, than any other parish in the state. The distance from Alexandria to New Orleans will be seen by reference to mute No. 13, page 47 of this treatise. OC AT AHOOLA is situated entirely in the valJey of Ouachitta. No town of any note has hi therto ari sen in this pa'rish ; and as re· spects its productions and improvements, little can be adued that has not been anticipated, when speak ing upon the Ouachitta lands. The settlements are scattered upon Little river, Ocatahoola prairie, and Ouachitta river, Sicily island, and Bceuf river and prairie. OU ACHITTA possesses no town of consequence : the settlements are extended along Ouachitta river, Bayou Siard, Barthelemy river, and Prairies Mer Rouge , and Jefferson. Some scattering settlements are formed on various places, particularly the Derbane west of Oua· chitta, but not extensive. CONCORDIA stretches along the right bank of the Mississippi, having that stream east, 1\ias;on, Ten saw, Black, and Red rivers west, and the parish of Ouachitta N. W. This parish occupies an inclined plane: its entire surface is alluvial, and all its soil excellent thflt is sufficiently elevated to arlmit of culture. Concordia, from its position, is very much exposed to tbe overflow of the Mississippi, and. the reflux of the Red river and its interlocutory str~ams. Cot· tQn IS the o.nly staple ; the quality excellent. Ooncordta town, opposite Natchez, is the ~eat of justice; but as a EMIGRANT'S GUIOE. 103 will age is of but little consequence : it is the only town in the parishor Settlements are on the Mi sissippi, and lakes St. John, Concordia, St. Jose ph , <1 nd Tensaw ri\'·ers. A VOYELLES, so called from the prairies, of that name; having on the east the lleJ, Mississippi, and Atchafalaya rivers, southwest Opelousas, anu northwest and north Rapides. The settle ments of Avoyell t's are most part in the prairie, and tolerably compact. The land of the prairie is high, anJ bears much greater re~mblance to Opelousas th ;.m to the lands of Red river, though contiguous to the latter The outlets of ReJ river forms water cour~ es, whi ch with the parent stream, encircles tJle prairie; and at a time of high water rt nJers it entirely insulated. All the lands of this parish that are of sufficient elevation to be arable, are of first rate quality ; great part of which remain yet pub· lie property. · Cotton is the staple ; and together with maize, constitutes the principal object of culture. No town t>xists in the parish. The~ e obse rvations on the N W. section may be closed by observing,, that during the season of inunJation, the passage from tbe east side of tht> Missis~ ippi is very difficult, except through the watercourses. The best time of the year to visit this country is in the months of September, October, anJ November. Nothing has been sajd on the price-s of .land. Nothing can be said with precision on that subject. Prices vary to infinity. The minimum price of good land will for many years to come be here and almost every where on th e frontiers of the United States, two dollars per acre ; but above that surn, the value must be estimated from the f9~bined ad vauta~es of every individual tract._ .. . \ 'I |
