Page:Mexico in 1827 Vol 1.djvu/578

548 yet accurately ascertained, but it is believed to be only from ten to twelve feet. The fact that a large schooner mounting twenty-two guns ran about twenty miles up the river Colorado, in the year 1820, would seem, however, to prove that this supposition is founded in error; but another schooner, which entered the Brazos in 1825, with difficulty got over the shoals, and, from the strength of the current, was in imminent danger. The rivers, at a short distance from their mouths, are generally narrow, deep, and clear, with a moderately rapid stream. They abound in fish, to which the North American settlers have given the English names, trout, carp, tench, &c. although what I saw differed widely from the fish of the same name in Europe. The Red River also produces a species of fish called gar, or gare, which is equally voracious with the shark, and has attacked persons bathing. The above-mentioned river is the most considerable in Texas, to which, for some hundreds of miles, it serves as a boundary with the United States. It takes its name from the colour of its water, which flows through a soil of rich red loam, and enters the Mississippi about 400 miles from its mouth. Steam-boats run from New Orleans to Natchitoches, 300 miles above the junction of the two rivers, once or twice weekly; except during the autumn, when a chain of rocks prevents their passing higher than Alexandria, 120 miles lower down. About 150 miles above Natchitoches, is the Great Raft, i.e. an accumulation of drift timber, which for many miles forms one connected mass all across the bed of the river, and obstructs the navigation, except when the water is very high. Keel-boats have already proceeded some hundreds of miles above the raft; and there appears to be no doubt that, when this obstacle is removed, the river will be navigable to a very considerable distance, indeed, it is generally believed, almost as far as New Mexico. The Government of the United States directed Captain Birch, together with another officer, to examine accurately the Great Raft, and to ascertain the possibility of removing, or avoiding it. From their report it appears, that by merely cutting a canal, at an estimated expense of 30,000 or 40,000 dollars, boats may pass through the Chiodo, a chain of smaller lakes, not only avoiding the Raft, but also a detour of about 100 miles. The object which the Government