The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1827-06-14
THE ARKANSAS,
1re GR4rrs ASn Grnn.:ss SwAwcs.
From FLats Fuller nf The MissisSipp

From Fltat's Eaily If The MisoissVpi.
We continued 10 float ON through the deep !
and inundated forest, when at righ, angles to oar
course. we discovered another opening. TWAS
the Arkansas moving on with majestic current
of water; of the color Of arnotto dye. This IS,
next to the Missouri, the largest and most inter
! esting tributary Of the Mississippi, and from ITS
mouth b., It's mcandcrs to the mountains IS com
monty computed about 1000 miles. lls course
has been traced in these mountains at least hvc
hundred miles, and il is believed that the source
ofthc Arkansas has not yet been c%plor d by our
pcorlc One singularity distinguished thisrivcr
from any other the United states. Where It
winds along among The mountains, all agree that
il is bread aud deep river, and carries great
volume of water. But no sooner does IT emerge
fron the shelter ofthe woods and mountains M
to a boundlcss and arid plain, composed TO
great depth uF ouicksands, than il begins 70 dis
appear; and ii hundred miles from the very ei-
cvatcd mountain near which i enters upon tnc
plain, it is formidable during the summer. SUI
lower down il Is a stream, Accord & to the wr"
, known phrase OF the eonraJ', ta'ink N the
yand," that IS, il trickles amidst tic banks OF
sand and pebbles, so AS in naiiy places TO eXhio't
,lry channel of burning sanl ttor' bank t. bank
Here on these vast SANDY plains, which will Tor
ares be the Syrtcs Of America, The home OF eiH'
. and buiFsloes arc the Wild fields Of those rch
native cranes that all travellers in these regions
have spoken of in terms of such admiration -
They are said to be conica N shape, large. OF
/ beautiful blue, ard transparent he arVins
. sands rise round the stem, that advance. S'i
above the sand This sand performs the bes'
. Office Of pruning, covering the superiiuous
growth and foliage, inhcting no woNnss, ahd
aHorlnr most admirable method OF rpehilS
the clusters in the highest perfection by the Fc-
: aecton of the sun from the sand. in The eXre-
" dtion of Mai Long, the extreme sweetness OF
= thesc cranes is recorded, and other travellers
!, have borne the same testimony. They speak OF
y :, vast tracts covered with these rich clusters
~ shall have occasion elsewhere 70 speak ot inc
: classes Of this native grape, which are 50 mncn
extollcd in the Internal provinces o' Spaln'-
~ They arc common through the pine woods o.
~ Louisiana, and known by the name OF the pine
woods grape.
~ This grape ripens in juno. Y would propa
~ by be an admirable grape to cultivate. Iher'
!, arc also varieties Of autunnal grapes, ana won
IN derful accounts are given Of the immense qnah
- titles Of grapes that rpen on the sand plains at th
70 sources Of Red river Thc hunters assert Una
~ they are richer than any cultivated grape
At distance of mile or two from the rFci
IN there arc first thick cane brakes, then series
;, lakes xactly resembling the rycrin their point
is. and bends, and in the color OF their wa,erS'-
~, These lakcs are covered with the large leaves
Il, and in the proper season, the flowers of III
s'nymphea nelumbo," the largest and mos
ck splendid flower that have ever seen M,
er seen them of the size of the crown OF nal' I'll
nj external leaves Of the most brilliant WINE am
the internal of beautiful yellow 'hese lake
are so entirely covered with the large co''e'
leaves, nearly of the s;2c of a parasoi, and
smaller class of aquatic plant, of the same icri
ful of leaves. but with yellow flower, that a n'r
on might walk from shore to shore, without dpPlh
ng its feet in water; and these plants rise rom
OF depths of water, up to ten rect
be Beyond these lakes there arc immense swamp
It'll of cypress which swamps constitute vast poi
ri ton of the inundated lands OF Mississippi ana II
nc waters. No prospect on earth can oe N'"i
lb- gloomy The pactic Styx or Acheron had not
he greater union of dismal circumstances we
i'd m?y the cypress have been esteemed funert
- and lugubrous tree. When the tree has shc
)rs its leaves for it is dcciduous, cypress swami
ng with its countless intcrlaccd branches, oil hoa
lly nrev has an ASPECT of Gesolation and DEATH tho
ID, often as have been impressed with It, canne
&c, describe In summer its fine, short, ana Gee
green leaves invest these hoary branches WIN
drapcry of Grape. The water IN wmch the
rroy is n vast dead level, two or three feet deer
y" still leaving the innumerablc cypress Knees
10 ne thew are called, resembling circular oeehNc
=" throwing their points above the waters I'M
=! water is covered with thick coat OF green "'a
- ter, resembling green bull velvet. me mu'
ny outoes swarm above the water in countless mi
s., lions very frequent adjunct to TINS hoIilp.
~ scenery, is the moccason snake with his mug
M scav body lying in folds upon the SIDE OF cy
oo press knee; and if you approach too near, iaz
w and reckless as he is, he throws the upper jaw
nm his huge mouth, almost back to his neck, sNlh
oo Won ample warning of his ability ana wili 10 W ut
oo oo fsnd himself. travelled forty miles along tn
oo river swamp, and considerable part OF the wa
Nv in the edge of it; in which the horse SUNK az g
cry step half up to his knees was envelope
nm for the whole distance with cloud OF musslu
va 'oo toes Like the ancient Avcrn,s, do not r'
'oo membe to have seen single bird in the distanc
on 'oo except the blue jay. Nothing interrupted !,
W dcath.like silence, but the hum of musqu'toe
,oo There cannotbe well imagined another featui
ioo 10 the gloom of these vast and dismal forests:
7oo finish this kind of landscape, more IN keepih
'oV with the rest, than the long moss, OF SPANS
heard; and this funeral drapery attaches nsell
ed the cypress in preference to any otncr m ,re'
of There is not, that know. an object ~ h''iur y
He which produces such number OF sePulcnTa, III
ares as the view of the cypress forests al sna
of red. dark, and enveloped in the hanging Iestoo'
he Of moss. If you would inspire an inhaoatah.