the means of his superior sagacity and watchfulness, | air which have wings composed of feathers; there are saved his little gang from the hunter's skill, by giving many of these whose bodies are so light as not to retimely notice of his approach. The cunning of the hunter, and that of the old buck, were staked against each other, and it frequently happened that at the conclusion of the hunting season, the old fellow was left the free uninjured tenant of his forest; but if his rival succeeded in bringing him down, the victory was followed by no small amount of boasting on the part of the conqueror.

When the weather was not suitable for hunting, the skins and carcasses of the game were brought in and disposed of.

Many of the hunters rested from their labors on the Sabbath day, some from a motive of piety; others said that whenever they hunted on Sunday, they were sure to have bad luck all the rest of the week.-Doddridge's Notes.

FLYING.

quire wings made of such strong materials, and which have them composed of thin membranes of the slightest texture. This is the case with all flying insects. The Bat, which belongs to the class Mammalia, is supplied with a kind of wing peculiar to itself, which may be considered as an intermediate link between the wings of birds and those of other animals.

The bat's wings are formed of membranes spread upon the bones which correspond with those of the arm, fore-arm, and hand in man, and of the fore-leg in quadrupeds. So far they resemble those of birds; they differ, however, in the materials of which they are composed, and in the bones bearing a closer resemblance to those of the human hand. They have what is peculiar to themselves-a hook-like process attached to the bone of the wing, by which they lay hold and support themselves upon the cornices of buildings, and so far employ their wings as hands. These wings when extended are of great length. In the larger species found in some parts of India, Afri

Vampyres, they often measure five feet; and Sir Hans Sloane was in possession of a specimen brought from Sumatra, the wings of which measured seven feet. As the bat itself is not rendered buoyant by any of the means employed in the internal structure of birds, and as its wings are themselves membranes of some strength, great extent of surface is required in them: they are not, however, fitted for long flight, and must be considered as a very remarkable deviation from the structure of the bird on one part, and from that of the quadruped on the other. The only regularly formed quadruped that has the power of flying is the Flying-Squirrel. The substitute for wings in this animal is a broad fold of the integument spread out on each side of the body, and attached to the fore and hind legs, reaching as far as the feet; so that by stretching out its feet it spreads this fold and keeps it in an extended state, in which it has a nearer resemblance to a parachute than a wing.

THE act of flying is performed in the following manner. The bird first launches itself in the air eith-ea, and South America, celebrated under the name of er by dropping from a height or leaping from the ground: it raises up at the same time the wings, the bones of which correspond very closely to those of the human arm, the place of the hand, however, being occupied by only one finger; he then spreads out the wings to their full extent in a horizontal direction, and presses them down upon the side, and by a succession of these strokes the bird rises into the air with a velocity proportioned to the quickness with which they succeed each other. As the intervals between the strokes are more and more lengthened, the bird either remains on the same level or descends. This vertical movement can only be performed by birds whose wings are horizontal, which is probably the case with the lark and the quail. When birds fly horizontally, their motion is not in a straight line, but obliquely upwards, and they allow the body to come down to a lower level before a second stroke is made by the wings, so that they move in a succession of curves. To ascend obliquely the wings must The flying-squirrel, however, is not capable of risrepeat their strokes upon the air in quick succession, ing from the earth, nor of flying in a horizontal line. and in descending obliquely these actions are propor- Its wings, so called, only enable it to sail off in an intionally slower. The tail in its expanded state sup-clined plane from one height to a lower one. The ports the hind part of the body: when it is depress- animal seems to acquire a projectile force by a mus ed while the bird is flying with great velocity, it re-cular spring at the outset, which enables it to descend tards the motion; and by raising the hinder part of from the tops of trees to the ear h. Šome species of the body, it depresses the head. When the tail is lizards and fishes are also furnished with substitutes turned up it produces a contrary effect, and raises the for wings, by which they are enabled to support themhead. Some birds employ the tail to direct their selves in the air, and fly for short distances. In the course, by turning it to one side or the other, in the Flying Fish the substitute consists of a simple elonsame manner as a helm is used in steering a ship. gation of the pectoral fins to a sufficient extent to sup We may observe that there is a peculiarity in the port the animal's weight, in this respect correspond bones of birds which serves to lighten their bodies ing with the wings of birds, since the pectoral fin of and greatly to facilitate their motions. A considera- fishes is analogous to the anterior extremity of the ble portion of the skeleton is formed into receptacles other classes. When pursued by its numerous enefor air, the interior of most bones in adult birds being mies, it relieves itself from the fatigues of swimming destitute of marrow, and containing air-cells which by recourse to its wings; the timid fish rises from the communicate with the windpipe or the mouth. In water, and flutters over its surface, for two or three young birds the interior of the bone is filled with mar- hundred yards, till the muscles employed in moving row, which, however, becomes gradually absorbed to the wings are enfeebled. He gains in this way ad make room for the admission of air. This gradual ditional strength for a new trial at swimming; but its expansion of the air-cells, and absorption of the mar-active enemy, still in view, drives it again from the row, can nowhere be observed so well as in young tame geese when killed at different periods.

Flying is not confined to those inhabitants of the

deep; its flight at length becomes shorter and shorter, till, wearied and worn out, the poor little creature falls a victim to its fierce pursuer.

INDIAN MOUNDS; OR, AMERICAN MONUMENTS, ble, or have erected temples, and pyramids of granite

IN THE SOUTH-WEST.

BY J. W. MONETTE, M. D.

have left monuments of their existence, no less dura ble than the builders of ancient Babylon. Babylon, with all its walls, its towers and temples, has disapTHE Spaniards, in their conquest of Mexico and peared, and left no record of its mighty founders, Peru, the only civilized countries on the American than what has been preserved on the page of history. continent, at its discovery, like Omar the Turkish In America the historic page has been destroyed, and emperor, seemed to burn with an unhallowed zeal to not a sentence left; but the imperishable monuments, destroy every thing in the conquered countries, which without number, proclaim the former existence of a might perpetuate the history, and even the memory numerous and great people who have long ceased to of the unfortunate nations and empires which they exist. subverted. Not only their gold and silver, but their government, their cities, their temples, their monuments, their arts, their history, and even their household gods were the objects of their insatiable rapine. Whatever art, or refinement, or even learning, which could not be converted into gold, was destroyed with a sacrilegious rapacity that would have shamed the Vandals of Europe.

As to a knowledge of this people, who, or what they were, speculation alone can supply the void left by history. They may have been like the innumerable tribes who inhabit the northern parts of Europe and Asia, a nomadic race of shepherds and warriors, who likewise cultivated the fertile valleys to sustain their numerous population; and although, like the Cossacks, Tartars, and Mongols of Asia, they may Hence a mysterious uncertainty rests upon the his- have dwelt also in cities and towns, still, unlike the tory of these mounds and works; which are the rel- shepherd kings of Egypt, or the immortal builders of ics of an ancient race of men who have once held do- Thebes on the Nile, they were unused to the labors minion in the middle and south-western portions of of mines and quarries; and unskilled in the art of pilNorth America: a race of men who have long since ing up huge masses of granite, and imperishable rock. become extinct; or who, in the fifteenth century had Yet they had their monuments: and whether, to comdegenerated into savages, retaining no other knowl- memorate great events; to perpetuate the memory of edge of their ancestors than the most vague and unsat- their friends and kings; or to serve as high places for isfactory traditions. The only true history which ex- the rites of their religion, they still remain, although isted of the American Indians, was doubtless preserv-less magnificent, yet not less durable than the mighty ed in the archives of Mexico and Peru. These by pyramids of Egypt, or the temples and monuments of the rapacious and sacrilegious bigots of Spain were the hundred-gated Thebes. Their cities, which doubtconsigned to the oblivion of a ruthless destruction.-less they had, were of a temporary nature; built of Hence the only authentic records which we have of nations who once inhabited and held dominion in these regions, are the numerous mounds, embankments, and subterranean works, which are annually discovered by the advance and enterprise of our settlements. These, although faithful records of a race of men who once have existed here, like the hieroglyphics of Egypt, are written in an unknown language to us: and from which we can only glean a few incidental facts, by decyphering now and then a sign.

wood and other perishable materials, which have long since mouldered to earth, and forest trees, to the tenth generation may have waved over their ruins.

The purpose for which these mounds and works were erected is also problematical. However, we are led to infer, that they were erected for various purpo ses; some for temples; some for mausoleums; some for common cemeteries; some for monuments, and some for defences. These purposes may be determined by their size, shape, and relative position.Portions of the American continent are doubtless as Mounds indicating all these purposes, except the last, ancient as corresponding portions of the eastern hemi- are formed over all the level, fertile, and habitable resphere; while other portions seem of more recent gions of the north-western and south-western states; production, either from the recession of the oceans, or and appear to have been erected without any regard from the action of subterranean fires. Yet even these to defensive operations. Many of them indeed are portions appear to have been generally occupied by a located in the most assailable situations. Even those race of men who lived long before even the ancestors which are surrounded by embankments of earth, may of the Indians found by Europeans in the close of the have been enclosed, to render them more sacred, esfifteenth century. Whether these monuments have pecially those for general burial places, or the mausoexisted for three thousand years, or only for eight or leum of their lamented kings and chiefs. Some which ten centuries, none can tell: whether they were once now exhibit no enclosures, may originally have been enclosed with walls of brick, or were built of unburnt enclosed with trees, shrubbery and the like, which earth is equally uncertain. One thing is certain, that have disappeared. Others which exhibit no embank very few of them now exhibit traces of any other con-ments now, may have been enclosed originally by struction than common earth, if we except the relics walls, which have mouldered into dust, and become of the dead which lie concealed in their sides. What leveled with the ground by the same ever active agent changes il ey have undergone in the lapse of ages none which has probably reduced these mounds to less than can tell; but from their antiquity, the change effected half their original size. by time upon their external surfaces must be great. The comparatively small number of skeletons found When we take into consideration the vast number in those mounds which have been appropriated to seof tumuli, and remains of earth-works which are found pulture, show that large quantities of earth were adthroughout the great valleys of the Ohio and Mississip-ded with each additional body. These skeletons, pi rivers, as well as of their numerous tributaries, we such at least as retain the form of bone, are found at must admit, that in ages long past, these regions were different depths from the base up to the summit; peopled by a numerous, enterprising race of men; who, they are found near the centre and near the surface. although they may not have lived in cities built of mar-Hence we infer that mounds were erected by a suc

66

cession of burials, commencing with a layer first up- ment surrounding them is much more common in the on the ground with a small tumulus of a few feet over north than in the southern portion of this valley: in the first body:-then the next at its side raised to an the south embankments about the mounds are uncomequal height and joined to the first: then another in mon; while in the north these embankments even octhe same way, and another, until the base was of pro-cur where there is no mound. The pyramidal square per dimensions. When this is done the first layer is mound occurs in considerable numbers in the fertile completed, and the next is placed upon the first tum- alluvial bottoms as far east as Pearl river, and probaulus, with an additional pile of earth gradually reced-bly to East Florida. ing with its external side into the pyramid form. In Many of these mounds we have said were probably this manner one layer after another may have been erected as sacred places of sepulture for their tribes completed year after year, until in the lapse of one or or chiefs. This is a mode of burial not unknown to two ages one mound would be completed, and remain history, among the tribes of the eastern hemisphere. a grand mausoleum, not for one person only, but for It was a custom more or less in use among semi-barbagenerations. Many of them are found with but a rian people in all ages. As Major Stoddart observes, few feet elevation above the ground; and such were Many of the ancient nations buried their dead in evidently left in an unfinished state;-and time and this way; especially those of distinction and considthe action of rains have in some measure leveled their eration among them. Iceland still exhibits the resurface. It is not uncommon, in the fine arable lands mains of tumuli; and, according to the drawings of the bayous and lakes of Louisiana, to meet with made of them, they appear to resemble those of the several large mounds near each other, and one or more Mississippi valley. Plutarch says that Alexander, on of less than half the size of the largest; being in all the death of Demeratus, made a most magnificent fuprobability one that was in a state of being erected when neral for him, his whole army raising him a monuthe final catastrophe of the nation was consummated.ment of earth eight cubits high, and of vast circumferAgain, within one or more miles of some large mounds ence. The Scythians, according to Herodotus, laborwe may occasionally find several others, all of which ed to raise as high a monument of earth for their dead are small and imperfect; and indicating the probabili- as possible. Semiramis endeavored to eternize the ty that the old burying place was completed and con- memory of Ninus, her husband, by raising a high signed to inviolate sanctity, while new ones were in and broad mound for his tomb. The same practice use. In one instance on the Roundaway bayou these obtained among the Spartans and Thracians, and even small ones are near two miles from the larger ones, among the Jews. * All rude and unculand upon a high alluvial ridge of a half mile in width tivated nations have raised these pyramids of earth, extending back into the swamp; probably selected as either as cenotaphs or mausoleums to the memory of a more retired spot for those sacred relics. Possibly those they respected.”—Sketches of Louisiana, they may have been hastily erected to cover the bo- p. 351. dies of a little host of heroes who may have fallen in battle, or been slain in ambuscade, where they received a hasty burial after the melee

In the valley of the lower Mississippi these tumuli are frequent in the finest arable level lands; and are seldom seen in the hilly regions except in high flats. I have never seen one in sterile lands, although they were beautifully situated. The mounds and works point out the regions which contained a dense population many centuries ago; while barren flats, having been then as they are now, unproductive, show no signs of a former race; having been reserved for game and pasturage.

In the lower valley of the Mississippi these tumuli observe a regular form, with very few exceptions.This form is almost invariably a regular parallelogram at the base, rising in a pyramidal form to the surface or terrace, which is generally flat and level. They are mostly oblong, being about one third longer than their width. Those found near the banks of the old river lakes, and the bayous, are from forty to two hundred feet long, and from thirty to one hundred feet in width; and from ten to fifty feet high. The area of the top or terrace is about one half of the base.

In shape these vary materially from those so common in the north-western states and territories. The latter are mostly round, of a conical shape, and often much higher than those in the south. This difference in the form of the works, especially south of Tennessee, is sufficient to indicate a different race of men as the builders of each. The difference in the form is too remarkable to have been the result of any accidental cause. Again, the earthen wall or embank

When we reflect upon this mode, as practised by the American tribes, as well as those of the eastern hemisphere, compared with the mode adopted by ourselves in common country burying grounds, we cannot repress our admiration of the superior mode of the former. We wish to hold our burial grounds equally sacred; and equally desire to perpetuate the memory of our friends and ancestors: yet very often a few diminutive hillocks, which will be completely obliterated in half a century, are all that remain to mark the spot where hundreds of our friends lie buried and in the lapse of a few years, their bones may be trodden under foot and desecrated by the plough; while the funeral places of these ancient barbarians still exist, and perpetuate the memory of their race, long after all tradition and historical legends have been lost in obscurity.

Some are evidently the remains of fortified places, or enclosed for better defence. Others may have been mounds for temples or altars for the rites of their re ligion, enclosed with earthen walls made of burnt or unburnt brick, which has mouldered to its original earth. Even in New California and New Mexico to this day, there are large villages of Indians surrounded by mud-built walls, as described by Lieutenant Z. M. Pike, in his passage from Santa Fe to the United States. Those which have been forts or fortified places for troops in war, are comparatively few in the south; and when found, they are generally in positions not easily accessible; or situated at some convenient point of communication. One of each kind we will brie ly describe. The first is situated upon the plantation of Walter Irvin, Esq,, about ten miles north-east from Natchez, and about seven miles in a direct line from

the Mississippi river. This is probably one of the water: but of late has become nearly level. About most remarkable works of the kind to be found in the this mound various remains of earthenware, and of south-west. It is situated upon an elevated summit implements of warfare have been found, besides nuof ground, in the centre of an amphitheatre of hills, merous skeletons. Some years since, the skeleton of the same elevation on all sides. From the base of an individual seven or eight feet high and large in of the summit upon which the works are situated, the proportion, was found here, upon the main mound. ground has a gradual, but irregular and uneven des- A more recent examination resulted in the discovery cent for six or eight hundred yards, except on the east, of several skeletons of common size lying promiscuwhere a narrow ridge extends from the base of the ously on the top of the main mound near the western works to the hills at the distance of half a mile. This base of the eastern super-tumulus. These were found whole region is constituted of yellow clay, or loam; within a few inches of the surface, where doubtless sand, gravel, or rock are not to be found near. The they had been covered by the detritus upon them.mound is very large, erected upon the summit by ex- These skeletons exhibited such evidences of great cavating around the base, and carrying upon top: the antiquity, that they soon fell to pieces when exposed excavation has been much more extensive at the west to the air. One skull only with great care was preand east ends than at the sides, which face the north served sufficiently entire to admit of a true drawing and south. The extent of the base of the main mound for an engraving. This skull was decidedly of the is two hundred yards by one hundred and twenty yards "flat head," or compressed kind; the occiput being with an elevation of the main terrace of twenty-five greatly compressed or elevated, while the parietal or thirty-five feet, with an irregular outline, some-bones were proportionally full and elevated. Besides what similar to the salient angles of modern fortifica- these, on the top of the eastern super-tumulus, were tions; these angles or projections are much larger on discovered in a circular cavity, about twelve inches the south-west and north-west corners than elsewhere. in diameter, and not more than fifteen inches below The area upon the top, including the base of a super- the surface, the ashes and remains of a funeral pyre; tumulus upon the west end, as well as one on the east being the remains of burnt bones and other animal end, is about three acres, while the area of the main matters, calcined and enclosed in a strong cloth of mound around the base is five acres. The greatest round coarse texture, entirely unlike modern manufaclength of the base is two hundred yards, and of the ture. Similar remains were recently discovered by top about one hundred and twenty yards. The sides John Routh, Esq., in opening the surface of a mound of the main mound are quite steep, being not more upon his plantation on Lake St. Joseph. These relthan thirty-five or forty degrees from a perpendicu- ics prove clearly that those who built these mouments, lar. Upon the top of the main mound are six other sometimes, at least, adopted the custom which has so mounds; one large one on the west end, and another long prevailed in the eastern parts of Europe and in smaller on the east end; two smaller ones are situated Asia, of consuming by fire the remains of their friends upon the north side and two upon the south. The and entombing their ashes. largest at its base covers an area of one fourth of an Another work of the same nature is to be found in acre, while its level surface on top of the terrace is the angle formed by the junction of Little river with about one-third as much. This super-tumulus has its the Washita or Black river of Louisiana. The land rwestern side or slope continuous with the main mound, on which this work is situated, like that for many above which it rises about forty or forty-five feet.-miles on every side, is firm alluvion, above ordinary From its top down to the bottom of the excavation at inundation. The plan of the work, as well as the pothe west end, is eighty feet. The mound upon the sition selected for it, show that it has been a fortified east end is similar to the western, but not one-fourth place. Major Stoddart, who visited it about the year as large, having its eastern slope continuous with the side of the main mound fifty feet to the excavation below. The others are quite small, being not more than fifteen or twenty feet in diameter across the base, and not more than three or four feet high, although they have been much higher. Those on the north side are largest, and are not more than twenty feet apart, being situated on each side of a ravine from the terrace down to the base, which appears to be the remains of a covert way or entrance. Those on the south are more remote, but appear on each side of a smaller ravine towards the west of the south side, which also appears to have been likewise a covert way. The larger of these covert ways appears to have entered near the centre of the great terrace, through the body of the work; the other appears to have entered nearer the circumference, about twothirds of the distance towards the west end. On the north side, about fifty or sixty feet from the base of the mound, there appears to have been a large bastion to defend the entrance; a similar, but smaller one appears to have defended the other entrance on the south-east. Close around the base of the mound, on all sides, there are the remains of a deep and wide ditch or fosse, part of which, fifteen years ago, contained

1810, gives the following description of these works, as they appeared twenty-eight years ago. He says there were five mounds enclosed by a wall or embankment of earth, at that time ten feet high and ten feet thick. The earthen wall enclosed about two hundred acres of ground. Four of the mounds were of nearly equal dimensions, being about three hundred feet long, one hundred broad, and twenty feet high, of a square or parallelogram form at the base, and diminishing towards the top in the pyramid shape.The fifth appeared to have been designed as a tower or turret, the base of which covered an acre of ground. It rose by two steps or stories, each gradually diminishing from its base upwards. The summit of the upper story was crowned with a flattened cone about eighty feet above the base.

Who were the people that built these mounments, and where are they now? Forgotten and unknown, they lie buried in these monuments of earth, where they were deposited, probably, long, long before the European first set foot upon America, and a new race have sprung up, which, possibly by the same influence, in ten or fifteen centuries, may have likewise passed away; when the remains of our monuments may be mere themes of conjecture.

RED RIVER.

ing, a dense population will extend itself on the banks of Red River, from Shrieveport to its source; and it will become, in point of productive importance, wha its extreme length and fertile lands presage. In ordinary seasons the only interruption to the navigation

and that only for a very short time. Boats that can ascend these falls can find water sufficient to carry them to the mouth of the False Ouashita, nine hundred miles above Shrieveport.

If a snag boat can be kept at work in the raft during the summer, we may safely calculate on uninterrupted navigation.-Caddoe Free Press.

THIS noble river is one of the most important of the tributaries which yield their wealth to the great Father of Waters. It takes its rise in the elevated undulating prairies about one hundred and fifty miles below Santa Fe of New Mexico, and three hundred of Red River is at the rapids, just above Alexandria, and fifty miles below the last spur of the Rocky Mountains, in about latitude 36 deg. North. It runs through the immense "Pampas" or Buffalo Prairies, to about 33 deg. 20 min., where it passes through the remarkable belt of wood known all through the west as the "Cross Timbers," which is about forty miles in width North and South; and extends from the Prairies of Missouri to the Rio del Norte, with a general course of south-west. Thence the Red River pursues its course east north-east, to the mouth of the MINERAL RICHES OF THE WEST. Kinamechie, in 54 deg. 5 min., the most northern point east of the Cross Timbers; this is the landing for fort WITH a view to ascertain as definitely as possible Towson: from this point its general course is south- the value and extent of the mineral lands belonging to east. Indian traders procure small quantities of rock the United States in the Western Territories, the salt from the Indians, which is found in the higher President, in obedience to a resolution passed by portions of the river. So far as we can obtain any both Houses of Congress, last year appointed Mr. idea from persons familiar with the river, its length David Dale Owen, of Indiana, to conduct a Geologi must be near two thousand miles. The white settle-cal Survey in Iowa and Wisconsin; and that survey ments extend to the Cross Timbers, something like thirteen hundred miles from its mouth, and near the 23rd deg. of longitude west from Washington, where the dividing line between Texas and the United States leaves Red River and crosses north to the Arkansas. The most remarkable feature in this river is its extreme narrowness when compared with its length and depth. To this cause must be attributed the forma-lic lands according to their value. The subject of tion of the Great Raft, which for many years locked up this most fertile and extensive country from civilization. As this cause must exist so long as this exuberant soil will produce gigantic trees, one of which, in the narrowest parts of the river, is sufficient to block up all navigation-the only effectual mode of keeping the river open, must be by the constant operation of one snag boat in the raft region, a distance of about a hundred miles, at an expense of some ten thousand dollars a year.

has now been completed in a very satisfactory manner, though we believe the Report forwarded to the Land Office at Washington has not yet been printed. Our information respecting it is unofficial, derived, through the western journals, from Mr. Owen himself and his associates. The immediate incentive to this survey was a desire to graduate the price of pub

the disposition of the mineral tracts belonging to the United States is one involving an immense effect upon the revenue. Lands which would readily command from twenty to a hundred dollars an acre, if entered as farming lands, would bring but one dollar and a quarter to the treasury.

The district which Mr. Owen was directed to explore, comprises an area of about ten thousand square miles, lying on both sides of the Mississippi, between Rock and Wisconsin rivers. It appears that this dis The great annual rise in Red River is in June, trict at the present time, before the miner has pene which corresponds with the August rise in the Mis-trated its confines, and while its vast riches are unsissippi. It is at this period that the great mass of known and unsuspected even by the mass of its few fallen timber moves down and lodges about fifty miles inhabitants, produces annually as much lead as the above Shrieveport, being the point where the river is whole continent of Europe, and that five times as msthe narrowest and the highest part in the old raft. A ny operatives as are now in the field might be prot snag boat, during the month of June, can effect more ably employed, probably for centuries, in the mines than in any three subsequent months, as "an ounce already opened. But, however inexhaustible or rich of prevention is worth a pound of cure." But the the lead discovered, that article constitutes but a small snag boat has always left the river in May, and the portion of the mineral resources of Wisconsin and lo consequence has been, and we fear always will be, wa. The surveyed district is one of the richest min that the raft will form every year in that month, causing regions in the world, and is as remarkable for the ing an injury to the upper country, which cannot be variety and the purity of its productions as for its erestimated. The ostensible reason assigned is, that haustless quantities. It contains copper ore in great the sickliness of the climate prevents the men from abundance, and of a quality averaging from a tenth t working. It is true, that to the unacclimated, the a third richer in metal than the best ore of Cornwall, miasma of the river, during the hot months, is fatal; in England, heretofore esteemed the most productive but men enough can be found, who can withstand any thing. Keel boats are always creeping along at all seasons of the year, and we see no good reason why snag boats should not be worked as well. Persons who have ascended as high as Natchitoches, or even Shrieveport, can form no conception of the beauty of the scenery in its higher parts. The river above the raft is wider, and flows through an elevated region. In a few years, if the raft can be prevented from form

copper district in the world. Besides this, zine, of excellent quality, is found throughout the lead region, and in such quantities that hundreds of tons are throw up from the lead mines as rubbish, the miners being usually ignorant of its presence, or that it is an ore of value. Thus the materials for the manufacture of brass are found there, side by side, and in abundance though hitherto entirely neglected. The deposits of iron ore, in quality equal to that of Tennessee