The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-08-29

quently to get far pobe of the main eurrens.
No abraion takes place At the bottom of the chain
mel of the Mhiiippi Cr Lower Louiliara) equ-
brum has long iince been eiabliihed; it is believed
rather that its bed the rife the margin of the
river rites by the influence of every inundation which
pales over it, thought that the bottom NUT rife
ALTO but this effect mutt depend altogether upon the
protuon of the cradle OF the river into the ocean, BY
which means the extremity of the inclined plane which
the river has carved out for the conveyance OF its
ers being prolonged horizontally the within
the channel mutt acquire elevation, placing
hemlelves parallel TO their former petition and the
bed of the river will rife proportiouably 70 far only
the aluvia bottom extends; and thus there will be
low but progrelive rife OF the margin and bed of the
river, which is perfectly agreeable to obervation.
The formation OF land is fnrprifngy quick in GER
tain iuations the the lole their great
velocity, they begin depoiit their contents; the
mott favourable petition either ide of the main
channel, where the current nearly but absolutely
dettroyed as for example, when the river fuddenly
makes breach off-cut from bend bend leaving
circle Of ieveral leagues of the former bed with little
or no current, the waters immediately begin to block
the two entrances, leaving the interior in form of
lake: in FIVE years the fall will be toleraby firm,
nearly of equal height with the adjoining lands, and
covered with foreits OF willow ond wood (pro-
badly populous deltodes~) so feet high lome parts
OF the old channels perhaps les than nun
dred feet deep this wonderful creative power of the
Miiiiippi may, by the ingenuity of man, be applied
to the accomplishment of grand objects by proper
embankments and 4 regular fupply and diicharee of
the waters of the MiIppi, the iurace of the earth
may be raiied to great height far above the general
level of the inundation travellers inform us that the
and villages of the Delta of the Nile are buil up
elevated tuations, which 70 many ifards dur
ing the ieaion of the inundaton. How ihall we &C
count for the formation of thoe iands? we have no
reaion to believe that they pre-exed in the Delta
they could be formed by the natural agency of
the inundation; the accumulation OF earth by mere
labour for the formation Of 70 many ands would have
beeu an Herculean talk it is therefore more rational
to uPpoe that the ingenuity of the a5origines of an
Gent Egypt directed BY the example OF nature her
ief puriued the fmple and facile mode of ele
waiting the lite OF their habtaons in the manner above
deicribed.
| We ihall conclude the above Imperfect iketch bv
oberving that it is the reult of occaona oiervaton
FOR ferries OF years, and Of fcatered information COL
ected from various iources probably often uncertain
from caute which is unfortunately too general viz
the extreme nattention of perfons even of ione edu-
cationto the mott curious phenomena paling daily
under their review.
Circumstances did not favor the inveRigaton of fe-
veral points of curious enquiry. 1t would be deGra
bic to acertain the obquity of the inclined plane by
which the Mihppi conveys its waters to the ocean,
both at the uriace and at the bottom of the river and
at various diitances from its mouth as alto the ref
Peefive veocties of the water in thofe petitions, at
low and high water. The difference of the yeIoc;t;es
of the at and under the urface was turned to
account by ingenious matter of veiel who finding
hirnie detained in his defcent by calm, dropt his an
! Choir ten dozen fathom below the fnrface. bv
which his veel 70 much retarded in the frean,
to enable him to ifeer efficiently keep clear of the
thore This hint might perhaps be improved to ad-
vantage much more perfect inftrument than an
anchor may be invented Tor the PurPoie of holding
the inferior current, and in tuations milar to the
| GuPh-itream, a veilel may thereby be enabled to
! eicape an enemy.
A chart of the alluvial country is deideratu,n,
with which is be hoped the curious will in due
time DC obliged, under the Prefent enlightened co-
vernment a correct ketch Of the various refsrveirs
and canals which this great river has formed Tor the
reception and acknowledgements of its ,nmenie volume
of waters will become the BATS of the vah improve
ments which at future day will be made upon thu
ineitimable portion OF the United States.
| WILLIAM DUNBAR
NATcHEz, January l., 1904.
Of Blrtram.