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a state of nature, with a da?k and heavy forest in Attakapas. Calcasiu and Sabine prairies .are
Its soil has been accumulating for unknown ages names that designate the different forms, shapes
from the spoils of the Mexican mountains, and and openings of this continuous line of prairies,
the vast prairies through which it rolls in its up- as it stretches along the settlements from thePlac-
per courses. All the bayous of Red river, and quemine to the Sabine.

they are numerous almost beyond computation, Some of them, as Opelousas, are of immense
partake of the character of the main river.    extent. That of the Sabine is boundless to the

Vast extents of marsh interpose between the vision. Calcausiu is seventy miles long by twen-
sea and the cultivable lands. The lakes and in- ty wide. They are generally so level, as to strike
lets and sounds are connected hy an inextricable the eye as a perfect plain. They have, however,
tissue of communications and passes accessible by slight swells and declinations, sufficient to carry
small vessels and bay craft, and impossible to be the water from them. Though after long rains
navigated except by pilots, perfectly acquainted they are extremely wet, and immense tracts are
with the waters. The shore is indented by num-    covered with water. They have a gentle and

berless small bays,very few of them affording suf    imperceptible slope towards the gulf, and gener-

ficient water to shelter vessels. Berwick’s bay ally terminate, before they reach the shore, in
is the only one that has any considerable extent, wet marshes, into which, when the south wind
A very great proportion of the surface of this    blows, the sea is driven. These marshes are cov-

state is covered with prairies. Almost all these    ered witlj a luxuriant growth of tall, reedy grass,

prairies are connected, and form, like the waters called cane grass.xe2x80x94In various parts of these pra-
of the Mississippi, a family, through which the iries, there are islands of timbered lands. They
connection of all the branches may be traced, generally have an appearance of such regularity
The prairies, that are included under the general and beauty, that a stranger is with difficulty con-
name of Attakapas, are the first, that occur west vinced, that they are not clumps of trees, planted
ofthe Mississippi. The parish of Attakapas is out in circular, square, or triangular form for the
situated in these prairies. The name implies beauty of their appearance. It would be impossi-
* man eater,’ in the language of the savages who ble to convey to one, who has not felt it, an idea
formerly inhabited it, and who are reported to of the effect produced by one of these circular
have been cannibals. It is an immense plain of clumps of trees, seeming a kind of tower of ver-
grass,spreading from the Atchafalaya on the north dare .rising from an ocean of grass. Wherever a hp-
to the gulf on the south. Its contents are com- you, or a stream crosses the prairie, it is marked
monlv stated at 5,000 square miles. But it is with a fringe of timber, which strikes the eye of an
thought this computation is too large. Being observer, like the lines of trees in landscape paint-
open to the gulf, it is generally fanned by the ing. All the rivers, lakes and bayous of this State
refreshing breezes of that sea. Its aspect of ex- abound with alligators. On Red river before it
tre me fertility, its boundless plain of grass, its was navigated by steamboats it was not uncommon
cheering views, its dim verdant outline, mingling to see hundreds at a time along the shores or on
with the blue of the sea, white houses seen in the
distance, innumerable cattle and horses grazing
in the plain, or reposing here and there under
the shade of its wooded points, has an indescriba-
ble pleasantness to the traveller, who has been
toiling on his way through the tangle, and the
swamps, and along the stagnant lakes, and the
dark and deep forest of the Mississippi bottom.

All at once he leaves the stifling air, the musche-
toes, the rank cane, the annoying nettles, and the
dark brown shade, and emerges into this noble
and cheerful plain, and feels the cool and salu-
brious breeze of the gulf.

Opelousas prairie is still larger than tne other,
and computed to contain nearly 8,000 sq. m. It is
divided by hayons, wooded grounds, points and
bends, and other natural boundaries, into a num-
ber of prairies, which have separate names and
marks of distinction. Taken in its whole ex-
tout, it is bounded by the Attakapas prairie on
the east, pine woods and hills on the north, the
Sabine on the west, and the gulf on the south.

The soil, though in many places very fertile, is
in general less so than the former. It atones
for that deficiency by being more salubrious, be-
ing generally deemed the healthiest region in the
state. There are here considerable cotton planta-
tions, and some of indigo; and the parish which
bears its name, is one of the most populous in
the state. The people of the other parish are de-
voted to the growth of the sugar cane. This is
the centre of the land of shepherds, and the par-
adise of those who deal in cattle. The greater
number of the people are chiefly devoted to that
employment and they number their cattle by
thousands.

Bellevue prairie is partly in Opelousas, partly

2 Q