CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
THE RIVER AND ITS HISTORY.
The Mississippi is Well worth Beading about—It is Beraarkable— In-
stead of Widening towards its Mouth, it grows Narrower—It Empties
four hundred and six million Tons of Mud—It was Hrst Seen in
1542—It is Older than some Pages in European History—Be Soto
has the Poll—Older than the Atlantic Coast—Some Half-breeds chip
in—La SaHe Thinks he will Take a Hand ,.*«,.!
CHAPTER II.
THE RIVER AND ITS EXPLORERS.
La Salle again Appears, and so does a Cat-fish—Bufaloes also—Some
Indian Paintings are Seen on the Bocks—' The Father of Waters'
does not Flow into the Pacific—More History and Indians—Some
Curious Performances, not Eaily English—Natchez, or the Site of it,
is Approached........ ... 11
CHAPTER III.
FRESCOES FROM THE PAST.
A little History—Early Commerce—Coal Fleets and Timber Bafts—We
start on a Voyage—I seek Inf ormation—Some Music—The Trouble
begins—Tall Talk—The Child of Calamity—Ground and lofty
Tumbling—The Wash-up—Business and Statistics—Mysterious Band
—Thunder and Lightning—The Captain speaks—AUbright weep*—
The Mystery settled—Chaff—I am Discovered—Some Art-work pro-
posed—I give an Account of Myself—Beleased.....20