The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-05-11

country In appearance Is a per-
feet paradise, and especially be-
low Natchez, being a succession
Of magnificent plantations, with state
" residences. massive aud grand, with.
the inevitable verandas and beautiful
groves Of magnolia, live oak and other
Southern shade trees. PheAlive oak
is a low bushy tree, growing often to
the diameter of four or i've feet, but
to the height of not more than forty
feet, or scarcely that. fThey-spread
their dense branches to a great width,
and are clothed with perpetual deep
green leaves Theysnare the finest
shade tree in the world. Natchez
stands on E a high bluff, and but little
of it a be seen from-the river. just
above the city is one OF the most
splendid private residences on the
continent. The grounds have been
arranged with kunspeakable beauty.
From Grand Gulf down there are
many points of beauty-and interest,
TO mention all of which would require
a long letter of itself. We,
can only allude to a few;
The first is the ancient homestead
and plantation of General Taylor
Old Rough and Ready-Coal Greek
Point, and the high bluffs opposite,
on one Of which is a large Indian
mound, and in the vicinity are deep
gulches{ termed the Devils Punch
Bowls, a great hiding place for me-
groes du ing the palmy days of the
peculiar institution. Coal Creek
Point was noted as the place where
Kirby Smith crossed the Mississippi
with his army. The great creVasse at
Morganza Bend is a matter of fearful
interest to the people of nine parishes
which it o~verhows. The waters 60
roaring through Il e breach with fear
full velocity, into Bayous Teehe and
FOurche and into Berwick Bay.
Passed Baton Rouge at Daylight.
Saturday morning The prominent
features of the city are the Asylum
for the Blind and the State Capitol,
the latter Of which was burned during
the war, and the massive walls alone
are standing, -a.f-f-
Ellis Cliff or Bluff is. another point
Of interest, being a high, yellow bluff,
a mile or more in length, surrounding
a bend of the river. Bob Lodge says
the greatest popularity about ii is the
AaCN AAasa Ha1GAAH ~ OAg AAI4AEA
times, he never failed to see on the
point a white crane or a negro fishing
with a dip net. The negro was there
sure enough. Met the Robt. E. Lee
at Ft Adams. W. r. Arthur at
Tunica Island, Dexter, i. N. Kellogg,
Alaska and Iberville below Plaque
mine. Donaldsonville, eighty miles
above New Orleans, we are told. is
farther south than the latter city.
The plantation Of Madame orange
and the Burnside Plantation are the
finest on the coast, and have the
largest sugar mills. There we saw
the first magnolias is bloom. Passed
A. j. Baker and tow below Donald
sonville. The Convent of the Sacred
Heart, 60 miles above the city, is
built of white Egyptian marble, |
and is a massive and beautiful b1ii5s !
iug-one of the most beautiful aud
on the continent. st. Joseph's
College is near by. The Red Church
twenty-five miles from the city-is
a point Of interest to steamboatmen,
being a river mark. The mate has
been busy all day with his crew, pre-
bis enormous cargo for being
dischar red, aud as we approach the
city all is hustle and excitement
aboard. Singularly enough, as we
sweep down past Carrolton, the great
Crescent City looms up before us and
between Us and the setting sun@for
although New Orleans is on the same
side Of the river as Memphis and
Vieksburg, it is nevertheless on the
west bank, as the river runs here.
Forests Of masts extends as far down
as the eye can reach. But Of this
hereafter. 8.