Major Stoddard, although in general well written, contains too much of what might be gathered in the closet; Mr. Ellicott, and Hunter and Dunbar, are the most scientific that have written of Louisiana; it is however a valuable work. Travels through countries but recently inhabited by civilized people, must necessarily be different from those which have long been in a high state of cultivation. Instead of amusing incident, descriptions of manners and customs, characters of distinguished persons, political and moral reflections, historical reminiscences, and a variety of other topics; the traveller has only to describe the face of nature in a state almost primitive, the monotonous character of a few wandering savages, or the situation of settlements still in their infancy. To such a traveller, a knowledge of natural history is indispensable; and here I must confess my ignorance of the most essential qualification. Lord Coke (who was no naturalist) justly observes, that the law "is a jealous mistress and will not abide a rival;" to become a botanist, mineralogist, or geologist, requires long and undivided attention. No one, however, can be a greater lover than I am, of the face of nature, and I have always dwelt with rapture on her beautious features, although but little acquainted with the analysis of the character which they conceal. The reader will find topographical sketches or “views,” some account of the soil, and of the navigation of rivers, descriptions of the towns and villages, and such other objects, as would meet the eye of a transient passenger. It is also fair to mention that the work is still incomplete; there are several chapters yet wanting to fill up the third Book; the volume being already swelled to a larger size than I had intended. It has always appeared to me, that the observations of travellers, if made with any tolerable degree of accuracy, should rank amongst the most useful productions, and should moreover be entitled to great indulgence. What can be more pleasing and instructive than the testimony of eye witnesses, relative to objects of the most interesting nature, which we are precluded from visiting ourselves, or than the remarks of intelligent persons on what chances to come under their notice during their peregrinations through distant countries! In the early ages of society, when there were no colleges or extensive libraries, travelling from one nation to another, was almost the only means of acquiring superior knowledge. Multorumque hominum urbes, et mores cognovit. A wise man and a great traveller almost signified the same thing. When in the form of narrative, this species of composi tion has all the attractions of romance, combined with the useful 10 ness of truth. I have always perused the book of travels with pe culiar delight, no matter how aukward its style, or humble the adventurer. In this kind of writing, the fidelity of truth is far to be preferred to the mere artifice or elegance of direction.* It may be said to be a species of composition free alike to the illiterate and the learned, requiring no peculiar or appropriate style; demanding neither the dignified march of history, the brilliancy of works of the imagination, nor the precision and regularity of those which are purely scientific, yet, admitting with propriety something of them all. Men of the most common acquirements are not thought presumptuous in attempting it; for it may be the fortune of such only, to have witnessed facts of the highest interest, or to have passed through countries not likely to be visited by the learned. Hence the various modes adopted by travellers, from the regular and systematic essay, down to the simple diary or journal. * The travels of Frenchmen in general, are bedizened with conceits of the fancy, and those of Englishmen loaded with sluggish prejudice. This, at least, has been the case of nearly all which are written respecting America. CONTENTS. Page CHAP. II.-War with the Chickasas-civil and political history of Louisiana, down to the treaty of Ildephonso, CHAP. III.-Boundaries-importance of Louisiana, CHAP. IV.-General description-face of the country be- yond the settlements-capacity for the reception of popu- CHAP. V. The alluvial tracts on the rivers Mississippi, CHAP. VII.-Natural or indigenous productions-animal, CHAP. VIII.—Indian nations-trade-general enumeration, 11 CHAP. II.-Description of the country between New Mad rid and St. Genevieve, 190 CHAP. III.—Description of the country from Cape Girardeau to the Missouri, 201 CHAP. IV.-Political divisions-inhabitants-settlements, population, 208 CHAP. V.-Towns and villages, 217 CHAP. VI.-Character of the ancient inhabitants, change of government, 234 CHAP. VII.—Climate, productions, &c. 252 CHAP. VIII.-Lead mines in the district of St. Genevieve, mode of working them-their produce, 256 CHAP. IX.—Description of the American bottom—Kaskaskia-fort de Chartres-Monks of La Trappe, 270 BOOK III. CHAP. I.-State of Louisiana-boundaries-general description, 281 CHAP. II.-The Levees, or embankments of the, Missis sippi, 308 VIEWS OF LOUISIANA. IN THREE BOOKS. CHAP. I. Discovery-first Settlement-and Political History of Louisiana. THE history of the first settlement of nearly all the American colonies, presents us with nearly the same recital of extreme suffering and hardy adventure on the part of the early settlers, as well as of the most grievous defects in the systems of colonization. Louisiana was not more fortunate than the rest; the whole series of colonial misfortune and suffering, were experienced by her in their most distressing shapes.-Not until after repeated failures and the lapse of more than a century from the first attempt, could it be said to have taken root, and it was at least a half a century more before it flourished. The history of this province is replete with interesting and instructive incident; the few pages, therefore, which I shall devote to the subject will scarcely enable me to do more than give an outline of the principal occurrences: even that, I hope will not be unworthy the attention of the reader. It was B |