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TERRITORIES.

FLORIDA, MICHIGAN, HURON, ARKANSAS, MIS

SOURI, OREGON.

FLORIDA.

Extent, 55,000 sq. ms.-Pop. 35,000-Slaves, 15,000. Florida is a low, level and sandy region, especially upon the sea coast. The soil to a great extent is barren or indifferent, but very fertile near the rivers and lakes. The principal river is St. John's, flowing from the south into the Atlantic. There are numerous lakes, ponds and marshes. The peninsula is intersected by a ridge of limestone rocks. The southern part is an extensive marsh, and terminates in the craggy rocks of cape Sable.

The climate is warm and tropical, and suited to tropical productions, such as corn, cotton, coffee, rice, sugar, oranges, olives and figs. Some orange trees here are supposed to be 150 years of age. There is a rich variety of flowering shrubs. The trees of the forests are beautiful and majestic, among which is an abundance of the live oak, remarkable for its durability, and its adaptedness to ship building. There is an extensive quarry of stone, consisting of a concretion of shell, which is esteemed valuable as building stone, and the houses in St. Augustine are generally built of it. Florida is thinly peopled and not extensively cultivated or explored. Tallahasse is the seat of government. Pop. 1,000. St. Augustine, on the E. coast, is pleasantly situated and regularly laid out, favoured with a salubrious atmosphere, and distinguished as the resort of invalids. Pop. 4,000. Pensacola, on the N. W. is near a fine bay of the same name, on an elevated, dry, sandy plain. Pop. 3,000. The territory is divided into 15 counties. A great proportion of the inhabitants are Spaniards. Some fruitful districts are occupied by a remnant of the Seminole Indians.

QUESTIONS.

See the map of North America, and of the United Staies.

What are the names of the territories in the Uuited States? Is Florida a peninsula or an island? How is it bounded? Of what extent and population? What cape at the southern extremity? What large swamp on the northern frontier? What 2 islands on the north-east? What cluster of islands at some distance south-east from Florida? What gulf between Florida and the Bahama islands? Ans. The gulf of Florida? What remarkable stream passes through this gulf or channel? Ans. The gulf stream, whose current is here so violent as to cause frequent shipwrecks. What river partly divides Florida from Georgia ? What large river from Georgia crosses Florida on the north-west ? What long river in Florida running north-east? What is said of the surface and soil of Florida? Are there many lakes and marshes ? What does the south part consist of? What is said of the climate

and productions of Florida? Of the shrubs? Of the trees of the forests? Of the live oak? Of the quarry of stone? Which the capital, and where? Where is St. Augustine, and how described? Pensacola, and how situated? How many counties in Florida? What of the Spaniards and Seminole Indians? When was Florida ceded by Spain to the United States? Ans. 1821.

MICHIGAN.

Extent 38,000 sq. miles, or 24 millions of acres. Pop. 35,000. 1 per sq. mile.

The Territory of Michigan is a peninsula, bordered by four lakes and watered by numerous small rivers. It is divided into 36 coun

ties. It is generally a level, and very fertile country, except along the E. shore of lake Michigan, where there are barren sand hills extending from the lake toward the interior.

The climate on the N. is severely cold, but in the southern and eastern parts, where the principal settlements are found, it is mild and pleasant. The soil is of surprising depth and richness, and vegetation most luxuriant. The territory is abundantly supplied with wild game and aquatic fowls, and with fish of the finest quality. Its advantages for commerce are peculiar; and the fur trade, here, is very extensive and profitable. The tide of emigration is fast setting into this region.

Detroit is the seat of government, and a very growing town. It is situated on Detroit river, and is rapidly increasing in population and business. Pop. 3,000. This river is about a mile wide and very deep. Mackinac or Mackinaw, is situated on an island of the same name, is important as a military post, and noted as the resort of fur traders. A flourishing Christian Mission is established here.

QUESTIONS.

What are the boundaries, extent, and population of Michigan territory? What three large lakes border upon it? What small lake on the east? Ans. St. Clair. What strait and island on the north? What two bays? What islands in lake Michigan? What rivers emptying into it from this territory? What kind of a country is it, in general? How is the climate? With what is Michigan well supplied? What is said of its commerce and fur trade? What of Detroit? Of Michillimackinac ? In what strait, and on what island is it? Where is Fort St. Clair? Saginaw? Brownstown and Frenchtown? Jacksonburg? Byron ?

DISTRICT OF HURON OR N. W. TERRITORY.

Extent 120,000 sq. miles. Pop. 5,000.

This is an extensive territory, little explored, and chiefly inhabited by Indians. It is attached to Michigan. The northern parts are cold, mountainous and sterile, but naturally rich in minerals, as iron, copper and lead. The surface in general is level and of

ten marshy. In some sections, there are immense prairies and large forests of pine. A wide and noble field is afforded for hunting. The bison or buffaloe, elk and deer, are numerous, as also the beaver, otter and muskrat, which are valuable for their furs. The shallow lakes, and low wet lands, abound in wild rice, which constitutes extensively, the food of the Indians in these parts. On Green Bay, at the mouth of Fox river, is a settlement containing about 1,000 inhabitants; and on the Mississippi, is the village of Praire du Chien (Prare du Shen,) distinguished as a place of trade with the Indians. The lead mines on the S. W. are of great extent and value.

QUESTIONS.

How is the District or Teritory of Huron bounded? It is bounded on the north and north-west by lake Superior, Rainy lake, and lake of the Woods; on the east by lake Michigan, and the river St. Mary's, on the south by Illinois, and west by the Mississippi. What is the extent? What bay and small lakes within this territory? What rivers running into lake Superior? Into lake Michigan? Into the Mississippi? Into Green Bay? By whom is this region chiefly inhabited? How are the north parts described? What is said of the surface in general? Of the prairies? Of the forests? For what is there here a noble field? What game is common? What kind of wild grain is mentioned, and where does it grow? Where are the two principal white settlements ? What tribes of Indians on the north ? What on the south?

ARKANSAS.

Extent 60,000 sq. miles. Pop. 30,400. Slaves 4,500. The western parts of this territory are bordered by the Ozark mountains, which extend into the District of Ozark. The E. part is a low, level region, covered with thick forests, and possessing a moist and unhealthy climate. On the W. are prairies of vast extent, reaching beyond the western boundary of the territory. A great proportion of the soil in Arkansas is extremely rich. The lands on the White river are accounted the best, and they are perhaps equal to any in the U. States. Wheat, corn, oats, cotton, rice and tobacco, are, or may be produced here in great abundance. The prairies abound in tall grass, on which the bison, elk, deer, wild horses and other wild animals feed in immense herds.

Salt springs are very numerous, and there are many hot medicinal springs. A tract of salt, 100 miles wide, extends from N. to S. through the territory, and includes a salt prairie several miles in extent, covered to the depth of six inches, with pure, white, crystalized salt. The territory is divided into 23 counties.

The capital is Little Rock or Arkopolis, pleasantly situated on the Arkansas, 300 miles from its mouth. Population 600. Arkansas has an elevated situation on the same river. It is an old

French settlement. Population 800. Dwight is a missionary station among the Cherokees. It is on a branch of the Arkansas, 130 miles from Arkopolis. Union is a missionary station on Grand river, among the Osages of the Arkansas, established in 1820. The moral and religious improvement of Arkansas is going on, through the instrumentality of the Methodists, Baptists and Cumberland Presbyterians. The District of Ozark lies W. of this ter

ritory, and contains 83,000 square miles.

QUESTIONS.

What are the boundaries of Arkansas? Its extent and population? Its principal rivers? By what mountains is it traversed? How is the east part described? How the west ? What of the soil? Where is the land the richest? What productions are common here ? In what do the prairies abound? What animals range over them? What kind of springs are found in this territory? How is the salt region described? How many counties in Arkansas? What and where is the capital town? Where is the town of Arkansas ? Where are Dwight and Union; the two missonary stations? Where is Fort Smith ? Spadra ? Cadron? Davidsonville? Batesville? What religious sects prevail here? Where is the District of Ozark ?

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MISSOURI TERRITORY. Square miles, 800,000.

This territory is a vast wilderness, resembling a desert, extending from the state of Missouri and the river Mississippi, to the Rocky mountains. It is a region of open elevated plains, generally destitute of forest trees, and interspersed with barren hills.

It is inhabited almost exclusively by various tribes of Indians, and traversed by herds of wild horses and buffaloes, which in

some instances range by thousands in a drove, appearing almost to cover the face of the ground. The huge grisly bear inhabits the Rocky mountains. Wild game, in great variety, abounds in this territory, more perhaps than in any other part of the world; and on this account, it has been styled the Paradise of hunters. Vast quantities of buffalo skins and furs are here collected. The richest and most valuable lands are found in the neighborhood of the great streams, which are usually bordered by well timbered forests. But in many parts, especially toward the Rocky mountains, there are extensive deserts of sand, and there is a general scarcity of timber, springs and mill seats.

Council Bluff, a military post of the U. States, is on the Missouri, 800 miles from the Mississippi. Harmony is a missionary station among the Osages, on the S. E.

The N. part of Missouri Territory, between the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, is now called Sioux District, containing 162,000 square miles. The N. Western part, reaching to the Rocky mountains, has the name of Mandan District, embracing 295,000 square miles.

QUESTIONS.

How on the east?

How

What kind of region is
What is said of the

How is the Missouri territory bounded on the North ? on the south? Ans. By Arkansas territory and Arkansas river? How on the west? How many square miles is it supposed to contain ? it? By whom inhabited ? By what animals traversed? wild game? Why has this region been called the Paradise of hunters ? Where are the richest lands, and the principal forests found? In what part do the sandy deserts most prevail? Of what is there a general scarcity in this territory? Where is Council Bluff, and what is it? What Indians in the south east part, and what missionary station? Where, or in what river are the Falls of St. Anthony? What is the great river in this territory? Where does the Missouri empty, and how long is it? What three rivers unite in its formation? What are its principal branches? What are the principal tribes of Indians? Where is the Sioux district? The Mandan district ?

OREGON TERRITORY.

Population, 80,000.

This territory extends westerly from the Rocky mountains, to the Pacific ocean. It is a region chiefly unexplored by the whites. The number of Indians inhabiting it, has been estimated at 80,000. The climate is said to be milder than that of the same latitudes on the Atlantic.

The principal rivers are the Columbia and its branches. The soil on this river, for a great distance, is fertile, and abounds in fir trees and pines, some of which are represented to be, 2 or 300 feet in height, and 30 feet in circumference. The river produces vast quantities of salmon, which constitute no small part of the suste

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