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Show 1836.1837] Fl* gg'* F* r West 89 upon the south slopes away to a fertile plain, sprinkled with farms. A few miles above the Big Muddy stands out froifi the Missouri shore a huge perpendicular column of limestone, of cylindrical formation, about one hundred feet in circumference at the base, and in height one hundred and fifty feet, called the " Grand Tower." M Upon its summit rests a thin stratum of vegetable mould, supporting a shaggy crown of rifted cedars, rocking in every blast that sweeps the stream, whose turbid current boils, and chafes, and rages at the obstruction below. This is the first of that celebrated range of heights upon the Mississippi usually pointed out to the tourist, springing in isolated masses from the river's brink upon either side, and presenting to the eye a succession of objects singularly grotesque. There are said to exist, at this point upon the Mississippi, indications of a huge parapet of limestone having once extended across the stream, which must have formed a tremendous cataract, and effectually inundated all the alluvion above. At low stages of the water ragged shelves, which render the navigation dangerous, are still to be seen. Among the other cliffs along this precipitous range which have received names from the boatmen are the " Devil's Oven," " Teatable," " Backbone," & c, which, with the " Devil's Anvil," " Devil's Island," & c, indicate pretty plainly the divinity most religiously propitiated [ 60] in these dangerous passes." The " Oven" • Grand Tower, seventy- five feet high, and frequently mentioned by early writers, is a mile above the island of the same name, at the mouth of the Big Muddy, and stands out some distance from the Missouri side. Grand Tower Island was an object of much dread to boatmen during the days of early navigation on the Mississippi A powerful current sweeping around Devil's Oven, frequently seised frail or unwieldy craft to dash it against this rock. Usually the boatmen landed, and by means of long ropes towed their vessels along the Illinois side, past this perilous rock.- ED. M The Mississippi between the mouth of the Kaskaskis River and Cape Girardeau offered many obstructions to early navigation. As at Grand Tower, the |