and hospitality of the gentlemen, and the dress, conversation, and deportment of the ladies, a proof is afforded of the great improvement which a few years have effected in society."

Boundaries. On the north, Missouri Territory and the state of Missouri; east, Missouri, Tennessee, and Mississippi; south, Louisiana and Spanish Possessions; west, Spanish Possessions.

Face of the Country.—The eastern part, situated on the Mississippi, is low, level, and much of it marshy. About 80 miles from the river, the highlands commence, and the Ozark Mountains extend about 120 miles. Beyond the mountains to the western extremity the land is highly elevated, much of it being sandy and barren, and strongly impregnated with salt.

Mountains.-The Ozark Mountains extend in a southwest direction, from the northern boundary to Red River, the tract being about 120 miles broad, and of the same character as the mountainous district in Missouri. The Arkansas and other streams break through the hills at right angles, and produce much interesting scenery. There are several lofty peaks, among which Mount Cerne, Cavanol, Sugar Loaf Mountain, and Potatoe Hills, are the most prominent.

Rivers.-The Mississippi is the eastern, and the Red River the southern boundary. The other principal streams are, St. Francis River, Big Black River, White River, Ar

kansas River, and its branches, and the head waters of Wachita River.

St. Francis River rises in the state of Missouri, and runs in a southern direction, principally through a swampy country, and falls into the Mississippi, 267 miles below the Ohio. Its length by comparative course is nearly 300 miles, and it is navigable a considerable distance. White River is composed of two large branches, which unite 100 miles nearly north from its outlet. The eastern branch, called Big Black River, rises by a great number of branches, among the Ozark Mountains. These branches all take a S. E. direction, and near the foot of the mountains, they fall into the river, which runs a S. W. course, at right angles. Its comparative course is about 240 miles.-White River rises near the western extremity of the mountains by numerous branches, and the main branch has a very winding, but generally N. E. course of more than 240 miles to the junction with Big Black River. From the junction, White River runs a course nearly south, of more than 100 miles, and falls into the Mississippi twelve miles above Arkansas River. Near the outlet there is a connecting branch between this river and the Arkansas. White River is navigable for several hundred miles, and its banks are said to be exceedingly fertile and beautiful.

Arkansas River was described in the general view, but a few particulars, with a notice of its principal branches in this territory may be added here. The river enters this territory near the N. W. part, and runs a very crooked but general E. S. E. course of nearly 500 miles to its junction with the Mississippi. The principal branches which fall into it in this territory are Verdigris River, Neosho, or Grand River, and Illinois River, from the north; and the Canadian River from the south.

Illinois River rises near the head of Osage River, and pursues a S. by W. course of more than 200 miles, when it falls into Arkansas River, opposite the outlet of Canadian Fork.

Neosho, or Grand River, rises near the Kanzas Village, on Kanzas River, and runs a S. S. E. course of near 300 miles, when it falls into the Arkansas, about 30 miles above Illinois River.

There are salt works on the banks of both these rivers. Before describing the Canadian River and its branches, it may be proper to notice that great researches have been made in the country west of the Mississippi, and particularly in this section of it, under the auspices of the War Department. Major Long and Captain Bell, two very meritorious and enterprising officers, belonging to the corps of engineers of the United States, explored all the country from Council Bluff to near the sources of the Arkansas and Platte Rivers. In returning, Captain Bell's detachment descended the Arkansas from the mountain, called by Pike, the highest Peak, (but which they have called James's Peak,) downwards; and Major Long's detachment proceeded to the southward, with the view of descending Red River. They entered the river as laid down by the former maps, and descended by its banks; but to their great surprise found it conducted them into the Arkansas. This discovery led to an entire new view of the rivers in this quarter, and it is found that 4 large streams exist between the Arkansas and Red River, and some of them rise further west than the Red River.

The Canadian Fork, which Major Long descended, rises by several branches in the mountains near Santa Fe, and runs a general course of about south by east to its outlet opposite Illinois River, before mentioned. Its comparative course is about 660 miles.

Canadian Fork, north branch, rises near the Spanish Peaks, 80 miles north of Santa Fe, and runs a general south-south-east course to where it meets the main branch, about 20 miles west of its junction with the Arkansas.Its comparative course is about 480 miles.

Little North Fork, a branch about 220 miles long, falls into the north fork on the north side.

South Fork of Canadian River rises to the west of the 24th degree of longitude, and runs nearly an east course to where it joins the main branch, near the outlet of the north fork. Its length by comparative course is about 350 miles.

These discoveries have given an entire new view of Red River. It has not yet been explored; but it is presumed that it rises in the mountains south-east from Santa Fe, and runs a south-eastwardly course for some time, and then turning eastward, it runs nearly in that direction to the upper settlements of the United States, to which point it has been surveyed. Its comparative course from its source to the western limit of the state of Louisiana, is, by this view, about 650 miles; and its length in that state, is about 220 miles, making the entire length 770 miles.

Wachita River rises to the westward of the hot springs, near Mount Cerne, and passing the springs, it turns in a southern direction and flows into the state of Louisiana, 110 miles below the springs.

Geological Formation.-By Maclure's view, the whole of this territory is secondary. By the result of the observations of the corps of engineers referred to, it appears that the "Western limit of the limestone and coal strata connected with the Ozark Mountains," passes through the territory in a north by east direction, about 110 miles west from the outlet of the Canadian fork; and the "east

ern boundary of the Rock Salt formation" is about 60 miles to the westward. The result of these observations, by Major Long, has shed a great deal of light upon the geology of the western country. As to the elevation, it appears that it rises as rapidly to the west of the Mississippi as to the east of it, and ultimately to a greater height. The elevation of the Mississippi at the outlet of Arkansas River, is about 220 feet above the level of the The north-west corner of this territory appears to

sea.

be at an elevation of about 1000 feet.

Soil and Natural Productions.—In the eastern part of the territory there is a great deal of rich alluvial along the Mississippi and other rivers; but the northern part of it is very swampy. Along the White River the lands are rich and valuable. Among the Ozark mountains the country is broken, and has nearly the same character as in Missouri. Beyond the mountains the country becomes very sterile, and in the western extremity is strongly impregnated with salt. In the eastern part the vegetation is very strong and rapid, the products being similar to those of Missouri and the upper part of Mississippi already described. In the western part there are large prairies with little vegetation.

Minerals and Mineral Springs.-It is presumed that minerals are abundant among the Ozark mountains, but as the country has not been settled they are of course unimportant. Large beds of marble are said to exist along the banks of White River, and the western part of the territory abounds with salt. The hot springs are much resorted to, and are said to be very valuable in a medicinal point of view. Major Long visited these springs in 1819, and found their temperature to vary from 860 to 150o. Hunter and Dunbar ascertained the temperature of five different springs to be 1500, 1540, 140°, 136°, and 1320. The water charged with an excess of carbonic acid gas.