ARKANSA TERRITORY.
ioa
18th.] We now passed an island or cut-off two
miles long, and forming a point four or five miles round.
Near its commencement we were again gratified with
the sight of a human habitation.
Although the lands along the bank of the river
here, appear elevated above the inundation, yet, be-
twixt the lower settlement and Mr. Twiner’s, where
we now arrived, the surveyor found considerable tracts
subject to the overflow, and in one place a whole
township so situated. On the opposite side, or In-
dian reservation, the hills approach within six or eight
miles of the river, and, like most of the southern pine
lands, promise but little to the agriculturist, but the
intermediate alluvion is as fertile as usual. The Great
Prairie, as I am told, on our right, lies at the distance
of about 18 or 20 miles; the intermediate space, un-
broken by hills, must necessarily afford an uninter-
rupted body of land little removed from the fertile
character of alluvial.
Towards evening we arrived at Monsieur LaFeve’s,
where two families reside, at the distance of about
eight miles above Mr. Twiner’s; these are also de-
scendants from the ancient French settlers.
19th.] This morning we met with a boat from the
garrison, commanded by lieutenant Blair, on his way
to Arkansas. We also passed Trudot’s island, and
Mr. D. stopped awhile at the elder La Feve’s, for
the purposes of trade. Monsieur F. by his dress and
manners did not appear to have had much acquaint-
ance with the civilized world. In the evening, wc
arrived at the house of Mr. Jones, where we were very
decently entertained.
20th.] Two miles further lived Mr. Daniels, in
whose neighbourhood a second family also resided.
The land' in this vicinity appeared to be of a very
superior quality, and well suited for cotton. Some
of it, obtained by the grant of the Spaniards, and
since confirmed by the United States, is held as high