Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-07-10


with barrels of apples and potatoes. Some have
loads of cider. and what they call cider royal,
mr. cider that has been strengthened by boiling
or freezing. There are dried fruits, every kind
of spirits manufactured in these regions, and IN
short, the products of the ingenuity and agri-
culture OF the whole upper country Of the west
They have come from regions, thousands oil
miles apart. They have floated 10 common
point of union. The surfaces of the boats CO.
yer some acres: Dunghiil fowls are huuerns
over the roofs as an invariable apendase. ne
chanticeer raises his piercing note. ne SWINE
utter their cries. The cattle low. Inc horStS
trample, as in their stables. There are noa''
fitted on purpose, and loaded entirely WIN lur-
keys, that, having little else to DO, goooie most
furiously. The handstr about from ooal 10
boat, make inquiries and acqualntanoes, ana
form alliances to yield mutual assistance 10 each
other, on their descent from this to New-Or-
leans. After an hour OF two passed III ms way,
they spring on shore 10 raise the WIND IN town
1t is we'll for III. people OF the village, II they
do not become riotous in the course oil the even
ing; in which case have seen the most sum
mary and strong measures taken. ABOUT MID
night the uproar is all hushed. The ueet uhites
once more at Natchez, or New-Orleans, and,
although they live on the same rrer, they may,
perhaps, never meet each other again OH the
earth.
Next morning 1T the first dawn, the bugies
sound. Every thing in and about the boats
that has life, is in motion. The boats IN hall
an hour are under way. In a little while they
have al! disappeared, and nothing is seen, as
before they came, but the regular current OF The
river. In passing down the Mississippi, we Of
ten see a mum Der Of boats dashed and floating To-
gether. | was once on board oil feet OF eight
that were in this way moving on together. II
was a considerable walk to travel over the roots
of this floating town. On board OF one boat
they were killing swine. In another, they had
apples, cider, nuts, and dried fruit. One OF The
boats was retail or dram shop. 1t seems that
the object in lashing SO many boats, had been
10 barter and obtain. supplies. These coniede-
racies often commence in troo, and end IN
frolic, in which case the aggrieved party dis
solves the partnership by unlashing and laana-
cling his own boat in lis own way. While this
feet Of boats is floating separately, but each
carried by the same current, nearly at the same
rate, visits take place from boat TO boat in skifs
While was at New Madrid, a large timers
establishment, Aoated there in a boat. In 1t all
the different articles Of tin ware we're manufac-
tured and sold by wholesale and retail There
were three large apartments where the different
branches Of the art were carried on i'll this float
ing mandatory When they had mended all
the tin, and vended all they could sell in this
place, they fioated OH to another. A still more
extraordinary mandatory, we were told, was
floating down the Ohio and shortly expected
at New Madrid Aboard this were manufac-
tured axes, scythes, and all other iron tools OF
this description, and in it horses were shod.-
In short il was complete blacksmith's shop
of higher order, and it is said that they Jest
insly talk Of having trip hammer worked by
horse power on board. have frequently
seen in this region dry goods shop in boat,
with articles very handsomely arranged on
shelves. Nor would the delicate hands Of the
vendors have disgraced the spruce clerk behind
our city counters. 1t is now common to see
Fat boats worked by bucket wheel, and horse
power, after The fashion of steamboat move
ment. Indeed. every spring brings forth new
contrivances OF this sort, the result of the far
mer's meditations over his winters fire.
We have only space for two extracts the first
describes the prairie which lies at the junction of the
Missouri and Mississ pp.
Between such magnificent outlines, from the |
foot Of the Mamelles, the prairie, in ascending
towards the north, has width of five miles, |
and is seventy miles in length. On the Missis-
sipp side, the prairie lou ches the river for most
Of this distance. The aspect Of the whole sur
face is so smooth, so level, and the verdure so
delightful, that the eye reposes upon it
Houses at eight miles distance over this plain,
seem JUST at your feet A few spreading trees
planted by hand, are dotted here and there
upon the surface. Two fine islands of wood
land, Of a.circular form, diversity the view
Large focks Of cattle aud horses are seen graz
ing together. 1t is often the case that flock |
of wild deer is seen bounding over the plain
In the autumn, immense flocks Of pelcans,
sand-bills, cranes, geese, swans, ducks, and all
kinds of aquatic fowls are seen lowering over it.
The soil is of the easiest culture and the most
exuberant productiyencss. The farms are laid
out in paralleograms. At the foot ofthe Ma |
melles are cumps Of hazel bushes, pawpas, wild
grapes, and prairie plums in abundance. The |
grass is thick and tall. Corn and wheat grow |
in the greatest perfection. When first saw |
this charming scene, Here said TO my COM
panion who guided me, here shall be my farm,
and here will | end my days In effect, take
it all and all, have not seen, before nor since,
a landscape which united, in an equal degree,
the grand, the beautiful and fertile. It is not
necessary in seeing it to be very young or very
romantic, in order TO have dreams stealover the
mind, of spending an Arcadian lille in these re-