638 LIFE ON THE MISSISSIPPI.
started. The morning was a beautiful one, and the river, which is remark-
ably straight, put on its loveliest garb. The blossoms of the haw perfumed
the air deliciously, and a few birds whistled blithely along the banks, Tfo
trees were larger, and the forest seemed of older growth than below. More
fields were passed than nearer the mouth, but the same scene presented itself
—smoke-houses drifting out in the pastures, negro quarters anchored in con-
fusion against some oak, and the modest residence just showing its eaYes
above water. The sun came up in a glory of carmine, and the trees were
brilliant in their varied shades of green. Not a foot of soil is to be seen any.
where, and the water is apparently growing deeper and deeper, for it reaches
up to the branches of the largest trees. All along, the bordering willows
have been denuded of leaves, showing how long the people have been at
work gathering this fodder for their animals. An old man in a pirogue was
asked how the willow leaves agreed with his cattle. He stopped in hig
work, and with an ominous shake of his head replied: * Well, sir, if s enough
to keep warmth in their bodies and that's all we expect, but it's hard on the
hogs, particularly the small ones. They is dropping ofi powerful fast. But
what can you do ? It's all we've got.*
At thirty miles above the mouth of Black River the water extends from
Natchez on the Mississippi across to the pine hillg of Louisiana, a distance of
seventy-three miles, and there is hardly a spot that is not ten feet under it,
The tendency of the current up the Black is toward the west. In &ct, so
much is this the case, the waters of Red River have been driven down from
toward the Calcaaieu country, and the waters of the Black enter the Red some
fifteen miles above the mouth of the former, a thing never before seen "by
even the oldest steamboatmen. The water now in sight of us is entirely
from the Mississippi.
Up to Trinity, or rather Troy, which is but a short distance below, the
people have nearly all moved out, those remaining having enough for their
present personal needs. Their cattle, though, are suffering and dying off
quite fast, as the confinement on rafts and the food they get breeds disease.
After a short stop we started, and soon came to a section where there
were many open fields and cabins thickly scattered about. Here were sees
more pictures of distress. On the inside of the houses the inmates had "bd&
on boxes a scaffold on which they placed the furniture. The bed-posts were
sawed off on top, as the ceiling was not more than four feet from the w?
provised floor. The buildings looked very insecure, and threatened every
moment to float off. Near the houses were cattle standing breast high a,
the water, perfectly impassive. They did not move in their places, butstooi
patiently waiting for help to come. The sight was a distressing one, and the ;
poor creatures will be sure to die unless speedily rescued. Cattle differ from
horses in this peculiar quality, A horse, after finding no relief com^ wiS