Page:A Topographical Description of the State of Ohio, Indiana Territory, and Louisiana.djvu/92

84 extend about three quarters of a mile. Passing these bluffs, the river is extremely crooked. They rise from sixty to one hundred and fifty feet above the surface of the water. The fourth are thirty-three miles below the third, and just above them Wolf river enters from the eastward. The mouth of this river is not large, and contiguous to it is the site of fort Pike. These bluffs continue about two milts. On the lower extremity is fort Pickering, in an eligible and commanding situation, overlooking the whole of this elevated round. When this fort was built, fort Pike was evacuated. It is a Captain's command, who has a detachment stationed at Post Ozark on the Arkansus [sic] river. This fort is in the Mississippi Territory, where the United States keep a Factor. Here is a small settlement of whites and Indians; but the most of these people are the half breed, which is a mixture of both of them.

On the western side, about sixty-five miles further down, comes in the river Saint Francis. Its mouth is about two hundred yards wide; the current is gentle; and is navigable for a considerable distance. The head waters of this river are said to be not far distant from Saint Genevieve, in a south westerly direction. At the entrance of the river, stood Kappas Old Fort, built by the French, principally for a magazine of stores and provisions, during their wars with the Chickasaw Indians.