4. BAY. This state has but about 60 miles of seacoast. This contains the spacious bay of Mobile, which extends 30 miles inland. It has two principal entrances, one of which has 18 feet depth of water. To the west, it communicates by a shallow passage with the bay of Pascagoula, which lies within a number of islands, on the coast of this state, and Mississippi.

5. CLIMATE. In the northern parts, the still waters are often frozen over in winter. In the south, snow or ice is seldom seen. The climate, on the whole, is more favorable to health than the neighboring regions, under the same parallels. There is hardly such a season as winter; and the summer heat is exceedingly oppressive. Cattle require no shelter during winter. Where the vegetation is most tardy, the trees are in full leaf by the first of April. Maize is planted early in March. By the 12th of April, peas are in pod, and the fig trees are in leaf. Green peas are at table, May 2d. Mulberries, whortleberries, and others, as well as cucumbers, are ripe by the middle of May. Maize is ripe for roasting by the end of June.

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In the hot months, bilious diseases are common. At this season none but the negroes, and those acclimated, can remain with safety upon the low banks of the rivers, or among the swampy lands. The inhabitants generally retire to the upper country, and among the pine forests, to pass the summer.

6. SOIL. More than half the surface of the state is what is called a pine barren. These lands are very common in the southern and western states. They have a clayey soil, of a gray or reddish color, and produce a coarse grass, with trees of a moderate size, thinly scattered over the surface. The quality of the land is never better than second or third rate, but is generally fa vorable to the growth of wheat. In the northern part, along the banks of the Tennessee, the soil is very good. The southern part has a thin soil, with much swampy land, covered with cypress and gum trees. The central part is rather hilly and waving, and the uplands here are covered with the long leaved pine. The borders of the Alabama and Tombeckbee, are formed of wide alluvial tracts, which are extremely fertile.

7. NATURAL PRODUCTIONS. These do not di fer essentially from those of Florida. In the southern parts, are groves of orange trees, affirmed by some, to be indigenous; but these were, no doubt, planted by the early Spanish settlers.

POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY.

1. DIVISIONS. This state is divided into 36 counties.* The population, exclusive of Indians, is 308,997: of whom 117,294 are slaves. . It stands on the 2. Towns. The only town of consequence is Mobile. west side of the bay of that name, in a somewhat elevated position, above the overflow of the river. It was founded by the Spaniards about the year 1700, yet it was an inconsiderable place when it came into the possession of the Americans in 1813. Since the country has been in our possession, it has flourished, although the yellow fever has been a powerfui obstacle to its rapid. growth. It is now the commercial depot of the whole state, and, next to New Orleans and Charleston, is the greatest market for cotton in the country.

Many steamboats ply upon the bay, and the river above, and there is a considerable coasting trade between Mobile and New Orleans. The Spanish part of the town consists mostly of ancient and ruinated buildings; but the modern part is handsomely built of brick. The public buildings, however, are few. Pop, 3,194.

Blakely, on the opposite side of Mobile Bay, stands on the Tensa, a branch of Mobile river. It has been lately founded, and was intended as a rival of Mobile. Its situation is more salubrious than that town, being open and dry, with several streams of pure water, and the harbor is deeper and more easy of access.

St Stephens, on the Tombeckbee, stands at the head of schooner navigation, about 120 miles above Mobile. It is built mostly of stone. It is situated in a fertile region, but is not a thriving place. Cahawba, at the confluence of the Cahawba and Alabama rivers, near the centre of the state, was recently the seat of government. It has many handsome buildings, intermixed with log huts.

Tuscaloosa, a little N. W. of the centre of the state, on the Black Warrior river, is the capital. It was founded but a few years since, and contains the University of the state.

3. AGRICULture. Cotton is the staple production. Sugar, rice, tobacco and maize are cultivated. Cattle, sheep and swine are raised in considerable numbers, where they can be guarded from their enemies the wolves, cougars, and alligators. The rank grass among the pine woods affords excellent grazing.

4. COMMERCE. This consists chiefly in the exportation of cotton, beef, pork, lumber, tar, and turpentine, at the port of Mobile. The shipping, in 1828, amounted to 10,473 tons. The imports, for the same year, were 233,720 dollars. The exports of domestic produce, 1,679,385 dollars. Total exports, 1,693,958 dollars.

5. GOVERNMENT. The legislature is called the General Assembly, and consists of a Senate and House of Representatives. The senators are chosen for three years, and one third are renewed each year. The representatives are chosen annually. Their number cannot exceed 100, nor that of the senators, one third of the representatives. The Governor is chosen

for two years, and is eligible four years out of six. The right of suffrage is given after one year's residence. The state sends three representatives to Congress.

6. RELIGION. The Baptists have 130 ministers; the Methodists 44; the Presbyterians 33; the Catholics 9, and the Episcopalians 2.

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7. EDUCATION. The University of Alabama, at Tuscaloosa, founded in 1820. It has 6 instructers and 65 students. The library has 1000 volumes. It has one vacation of about 10 weeks in summer and autumn. Commencement is in December. La Grange College, in the county of Franklin, was incorporated in 1830, but has not yet been endowed. There are 24 incorporated academies in the state.

8. INDIANS. The Creeks occupy the eastern part of the state, between Georgia and the Coosa river. Their numbers are about 20,000. In point of civilization and industry, they are the lowest of the four southern tribes. Yet some of their towns contain 200 houses, and their knowledge of agriculture is respectable. The territories of this tribe formerly extended into Georgia, but their title to the land, in that state, was purchased by the United States government in 1827. The Cherokees occupy the northwestern part, and the Choctaws and Chickasaws, the western; but the two latter tribes are chiefly in Mississippi.

9. HISTORY. The southern portion was originally a part of Florida, and

the northern was included in Georgia; this was purchased from that state by the United States government, and formed a part of the Mississippi Territory. It was made a territorial government, in 1817. In 1820, it was admitted into the Union as an independent state. Its increase of population since this period has been very rapid.

CHAPTER XXI. MISSISSIPPI.

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY.

1. BOUNDARIES AND EXTENT. This state is bounded N. by Tennessee ; E. by Alabama; S. by Louisiana, and W. by Louisiana and the Territory of Arkansas, from which it is separated in part by the river Mississippi. It extends from 30° 10′ to 35° N. lat; and from 80° 30′ to 81° 35′ W. Îon. It is 335 miles in length from N. to S. and 150 broad; and contains 45,760 square miles.

The head waters of the

2. RIVERS. Tombeckbee rise in the northern part of this state, and pass into Alabama. The Pascagoula and Pearl flow S. to the Gulf of Mexico. The Mississippi washes the western limit, and receives from this state two tributaries called the Yazoo and the Big Black. Except the Mississippi, these streams are only navigable by boats.

3. COAST AND ISLANDS. A small portion of the southern extremity lies upon the gulf, or rather upon the outlet of Lake Borgne. Here are eight or ten small islands, mostly sterile, and covered with pine forests. Ship Island and Horn Island are the principal.

4. CLIMATE. In point of temperature this state does not differ from Alabama; but from the great extent of the inundated lands on the Mississippi, it is much more unhealthy.

5. SOIL. On the border of the Mississippi are large tracts, inundated by the overflowing of the river. In other respects, the soil is not materially different from that of Alabama. The deep river alluvions are preferred for cultivation.

6. FACE OF THE COUNTRY. In the northern part, the land has a regular and pleasant undulation. There are several ranges of hills in the southwestern part, which jut upon the Mississippi, but none of any considerable height. The southern part is a flat alluvial tract.

POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY.

1. DIVISIONS. The northern part of this state is either in the possession of the Indians, or unsettled. The southern part is divided into 26 counties.* The population, exclusive of Indians, is 136,806, of whom 65,659 are slaves. 2. Towns. Natchez, is the only large town in the state. It stands principally on a bluff, or high bank upon the river, 300 feet above the common level of the stream. The streets are broad, and some of the public build

ings are handsome. Here is a branch of the United States Bank. The business is chiefly confined to the lower town, and this is the chief place in the state for the shipment of cotton. Great numbers of steamboats and river craft are continually arriving and departing here. In the rear of the town, the country is variegated and delightful, and the hills are clothed with woods and vineyards. The opposite bank of the river in Louisiana is an interminable cypress swamp. Natchez is incorporated with city privileges, yet the insalubrity of the climate has hitherto prevented it from becoming more than a town of moderate size. It is often visited by the yellow fever, and its inhabitants are of a very miscellaneous character. Pop. 2,790.

Jackson, on Pearl River, has lately been selected as the seat of government. The situation is central, healthy and agreeable. Monticello, on Pearl river, and Warrenton, on the Mississippi, in the southern part, are considerable places. Vicksburgh, at the Walnut Hills, on the Mississippi, has grown up suddenly within six or eight years, and exports much cotton to New Orleans. Steamboats regularly ply between the two places. It has a remarkably picturesque situation, being seated on the shelving side of several high hills, with the houses scattered about in groups upon the terraces.

3. AGRICULTURE. Cotton is the staple of this state, and is raised in every part. Hardly anything else is thought worthy of attention. Sugar cane has been introduced only in the southern part. Both the climate and soil are adapted to the cultivation of tobacco, maize, sweet potatoes, rice and indigo. The palma christi, or castor oil bean is sometimes raised. No planters in the United States derive greater incomes in proportion to their capital than those of Mississippi. The number of laborers on a plantation varies from 20

to 200.

4. INDIANS. The Chocktaws and Chickasaws occupy nearly all the northern and central part. The former amount to 21,000, and the latter to above 3,600. They are in an improving state; have large cultivated fields, good houses, workshops, schools and churches. There is a missionary station among them at Elliot, on the Yalo Busha, a branch of the Yazoo. The land which they occupy is fertile and pleasant.

5. GOVERNMENT. The legislature is called the General Assembly, and consists of a Senate and House of Representatives. The senators are chosen for three years, one third being renewed every year. The representatives are chosen annually. The right of suffrage requires one year's residence. Clergymen are excluded from civil offices. Mississippi sends one representative to Congress. The Methodists have 23 preachers; the Baptists 58 churches; the Presbyterians 25; the Episcopalians, 4 ministers, and there are some Catholics.

6. RELIGION.

7. EDUCATION. Jefferson College, at Washington, near Natchez, was established in 1802. It has 10 instructers, and 160 students. The state has a literary fund, and there are public schools at Natchez, Woodville and Monticello.

8. HISTORY. The French formed a settlement in this state, at Natchez, in 1716; but the right of the territory was long disputed between the French and the Spanish, and more recently between the French and English. Hardly anything further was done toward the settlement of the country for many years. In 1763, it was ceded to the English, with all the French pos sessions east of the Mississippi. In 1798, it was erected by the United States, into a territorial government, Alabama being included within its limits; but this latter state was set off from Mississippi in 1817, and Mississippi was, the same year, received into the union as a state. The constitution was formed in 1817.

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CHAPTER XXII. LOUISIANA.

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY.

1. BOUNDARIES AND EXTENT. This state is bounded N. by the Arkansas Territory and the state of Mississippi; E. by Mississippi and the Gulf of Mexfrom bico; S. by the gulf, and W. by the Mexican province of Texas. It lies

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between 290 and 33'. N. lat. and 89° and 94° W. lon. It is 240 miles in Plength from N. to S., and 210 in width, and contains 48,220 square miles.

2. RIVERS. The Mississippi flows through this state into the Gulf of Mexico. A full description of this river will be reserved for the general view of the western states. In this place, it may be remarked that it affords a navigation for ships of any size through the state, and passes to the sea by several outlets.

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Red River is one of the western tributaries of the Mississippi. It rises near Santa Fe, in the province of New Mexico, and runs southeasterly in a very meandering course, through immense prairies, and farther down through a fertile alluvial tract. It joins the Mississippi, 240 miles above New Orleans, a course of about 1800 miles. It is a narrow stream, considering its length, but its mass of water is very great. In some places it is divided into two or three parallel channels, and passes through a series of bayous and lakes. About a hundred miles above Natchitoches, there is a swampy tract upon its banks, 20 or 30 miles in width. In this spot, the river spreads into a vast number of channels, and here great masses of timber and fallen trees, brought down by the stream, have been collecting for ages. These have formed an immense floor or raft upon the surface of the water, 60 or 70 miles in extent. In some places, the river may be crossed on horseback, and boats pass down the stream by the bayous and lakes along its border. Willow trees and shrubbery have overgrown the raft, and flourish over the water. Above this raft, the river is broad, deep and navigable for steamboats except in the driest seasons, for 1000 miles. Below the raft, the river passes through a vast number of channels, bayous and lakes. The raft is a great impediment to navigation, and endeavors have been made by the state and general governments to remove it.

This

The Washita rises in the Masserne mountains in Arkansas Territory, and flowing southerly, joins the Red river near its mouth. The Bayou Lafourche is one of the outlets of the Mississippi, forking off from the southwestern side of the river. The Atchafalaya is another on the same side, and leaves the main stream at a higher point, just below the entrance of Red River. river receives large quantities of the drift wood brought down by the Mississippi, and its surface is covered with a raft, 8 or 10 miles in extent, which is estimated to contain more than 2,000,000 cords of timber. This rises and falls with the stream, and is overgrown with shrubs and flowering plants. A person might cross this raft, without knowing that a river was rolling under

his feet.

The Sabine rises in the province of Texas, and flowing south into the
Gulf of Mexico, forms the greater part of the western limit of this state.

3. LAKES. In the eastern part are lakes Maurepas and Pontchartrain, which are united by a narrow strait, and discharge their waters into Lake

The word bayou seems to be peculiar to this state and the immediate neighborhood. It is probably a corruption of the French boyau, and is generally applied to the channels, or natural canals which connect the rivers and lakes, or pass off from the main stream of a river to the sea. More rarely a small stream or creek is called by this name.