Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-04-01


Has dashed me on the sawyer."-( BRAINERD-
The North American continent in its
impenetrable forests, It's fertile prairies. It's
magnificent lakes, its variety of rivers
with their falls, is the richest portion Of
our globe. Many of those wonderful ex-
hibitions of nature are already shrines
where pilgrims from every land assemble
to admire and marvel at the surprising
wonders of the new world So numerous
indeed are the objects presented, so novel
and striking in their character. that the
Judgment il confused in endeavournr 10
decide which single one il worthy of the
greatest admiration; and the forests, the
prairies, the lakes, the rivers, and falls,
each in turn dispute the supremacy. But
10 US, the Mississippi ranks first in impor
lance and this we think must strike all.
when they consider the luxurious fertility of
the valley through which it flows, lis vast
extent, and the charm of mystery that rests
upon lis waters. The Niagara Falls, with
lis fearful depths, its rocky heights. lis
thunder, and Bows of promise" address,
es itself to the ear, and the eye, and thro'
these alone impresses the beholder with the
greatness Gifts character. The Mississip-
pr, on the contrary, although it may have
few or no tangible demonstrations of power,
although II has no language with which it
can startle the senses, vet in "A " still small
voice" it addresses the mind, with It's terri
BILE lessons of strength and sub!lmity,
more forcibly than any other object in
nature.
The name Mississippi was derived from
the aborigines of the country, and has
been poeucalIy rendered the Father OF
Waters" There is but little trlth in
this translation, and it gives no idea, or
scarcely none, of the river Itself. The Ii
teral meaning of the Indian compound Mis-
sissippl, as is The case with all Indian
names in this country, would have been
much better, and every way more charac-
terisiic. From the most numerous tribe
in the southwest we derive The name; and
it would seem that the same people who
gave the name TO the Mississippi tdlffe-
rent times possessed nearly half of the
continent; Judging from the fact that the
north, and of the most southern points o.
the peninsula of Florida are from the Choc
taw language. With that tribe, the NV,
simple adjectives NISSAN and Sippah, are
used when describing the most familiar
things; but these two words, though they
are employed thus Familiarity, when sepa
rated, when compounded, form the mos
characteristic name we can get of thu
wonderful river. NISSAN, literally Old big
Sippah, strong, OH STRONG, and thu
name is eminently appropriate TO the Mis-
sissippi.
The country through which this rive
flows is almost alluvial. Not stone is Il
i be seen, save about lis head waters but
dark rich earth that $ looks eager Cor tn
hand of cultivation = for vegetation lie
piled upon the surface with luxurian
wasiefuiness that beggars all description
and finds no comparison for its extent, ex
/ cept in the mighty river from which il re
{ ceives its support. The alluyial soil form
! frail banks to confine The swift current {
/. The Mississippi; and as might be imagined
5 they are continually altering their shap
/ and location. The channel is capricioF
q and hayward IN lis course. The need
Of The compass turns round and round d
on its axis, as Il marks the bearing Of yol
craft, and ii few hours will point d
norta, vest east, and south, deIinealiF