536 LIFE ON THE MISSISSIPPI.
were about twenty feet square, and in front of an improvised shelter earth
had been placed, on which they built their fire.
The current running down the Atchafalaya was very swift, the Mississippi
showing a predilection in that direction, which needs only to be seen to
enforce the opinion of that river's desperate endeavours to find a short -way
to the Gulfl Small boats, skiffs, pirogues, etc., are in great demand, and
many have been stolen by piratical negroes, who take them where they -will
bring the greatest price. From what was told me by Mr. C. P. Ferguson,
a planter near Red River Landing, whose place has just gone under, there
is much suffering in the rear of that place. The negroes had given up all
thoughts of a crevasse there, as the upper levee had stood so long, and when
it did come they were at its mercy. On Thursday a number were taken out
of trees and off of cabin roofs and brought in, many yet remaining.
One does not appreciate the sight of earth until he has travelled through
a flood. At sea one does not expect or look for it, but here, with fluttering
leaves, shadowy forest aisles, house-tops barely visible, it is expected. In
fact a grave-yard, if the mounds were above water, would be appreciated.
The river here is known only because there is an opening in the trees, and
that is all. It is in width, from Fort Adams on the left bank of th«
Mississippi to the bank of Rapides Parish, a distance of about sixty miles. A
large portion of this was under cultivation, particularly along the Mississippi
and back of the Red. When Red River proper was entered, a strong current
was running directly across it, pursuing the same direction as that of the
Mississippi.
After a run of some hours, Black River was reached. Hardly was it
entered before signs of suffering became visible. All the willows along the
banks were stripped of their leaves. One man, whom your correspondent
spoke to, said that he had had one hundred and fifty head of cattle and one
hundred head of hogs. At the fiist appearance of water he had started to
drive them tc the high lands of Avoyelles, thirty-five miles off, but he lost
fifty head of the beef cattle and sixty hogs. Black River is quite picturesque,
even if its shores are under water. A dense growth of ash, oak, gum, and
hickory make the shores almost impenetrable, and where one can get a view
down some avenue hi the trees, only the dim outlines of distant trunks can
be barely distinguished in the gloom.
A few miles up this river, the depth of water on the banks was fully eight
feet, and on all sides could be seen, still hoi jh'ng against the strong current,
the tops of cabins. Here and there one overturned was surrounded by drift-
wood, forming the nucleus of possibly some future island.
In order to save coal, as it was impossible to get that fuel at any point
to be touched during the expedition, a look-out was kept for a wood-pile,
On rounding a point a pirogue, sMlfolly paddled by a youth, shot out, and