649 LIFE ON THE MISSISSIPPI.

cheering by his kindly words and directing with calm judgment what Is to
be done. One unpleasant story, of a certain merchant in New Orleans, is
told all along the river. It appears for some years past the planters have
been dealing with this individual, and many of them had balances in his
hands. When the overflow came they wrote for coffee, for meal, and, in
fact, for such little necessities as were required. No response to these letters
came, and others were written, and yet these old customers, with plantations
under water, were refused even what was necessary to sustain life. It »
needless to say he is not popular now on Black River.

The hills spoken of as the place of refuge for the people and stock on
Black River are in Oatahoula parish, twenty-four miles from Black River.

After filling the flat with cattle we took on board the family of T. S.
Hooper, seven in number, who could not longer remain in their dwelling,
and we are now taking them up Little Elver to the hills*

THE FLOOD STTLL
Troy: March 27,1882, noon,
The flood here is rising about three and a half inches every twenty-four
hours, and rains have set in which will increase this. General York feds
now that our efforts ought to be directed towards saving life, as the increase
of the water has jeopardised many houses. We intend to go up the Tensas
in a few minutes, and then we will return and go down Black River to take
off families. There is a lack of steam transportation here to meet the
emergency. The General has three boats chartered, with flats in tow, but
the demand for these to tow out stock is greater than they can meet with
promptness. All are working night and day, and the ' SusieJ hardly stops
for more than an hour anywhere. The rise has placed Trinity in a dangerous
plight, and momentarily it is expected that some of the houses will float oŁ
Troy is a little higher, yet all are in the water. Reports have come in
that a woman and child have been washed away below here, and two
cabins floated off. Their occupants are the same who refused to come off
day before yesterday* One would not believe the utter passiveness of Hie
people.
As yet no news has been received of the steamer ' Delia,' which is sup-
posed to be the one sunk in yesterday's storm on Lake Catahoula. She is
due here now, but has not arrived* liven the mail here is most uncertain,
and tibis I send by skiff to Natchez to get it to you. It is impossible to get
accurate data as to past crops, etc., as those who know much about the