The Geographical and Historical Dictionary of America and the West Indies Volume 3; Containing an Entire Translation of the Spanish Work of Colonel Don Antonio de Alcedo with Large Additions and Compilations from Modern Voyages and Travels, and from Ori (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1812 Excerpt: ...nearly resembling mineral coal; its appearance was that of the carbonated wood described by Kirwan. It docs not easily burn; but on being applied to the flame of a candle, it sensibly increased it, and yielded a faint smell, resembling in a slight degree that of the-gum lac of common sealing-wax. 'Soft friable stone is common, and great quantities of gravel and sand, upon the beaches in this part of the river. A reddish clay appears in the strata, much indurated and blackened by exposure 4o the light and air. 'The position called fort Miro being the property of a private person, who was formerly civil commandant here, the lieutenant has taken post about 400 yards lower; has built himself some log houses, and inclosed them with a slight stockade. Upon viewing the country e. of the river, it is evidently alluvial; the surface has a gentle slope from-the river to the rear of the plantations. The land is of excellent quality, being a rich black mould to the depth of a foot, under which there is a friable loam of a brownish liver colour. '.At the post of the Washita, they procured a boat of less draught of water than the one in which they ascended the river thus far; at noon, on the llth of November, they proceeded on the voyage, and in the evening encamped at the plantation of Baron Bastrop. 'This small settlement on the Washita, and some of the creeks falling into it, contains not more than 500 persons, of all ages and sexes. It is Teported, however, that there is a great quantity of excellent land upon these creeks, and that the settlement is capable of great extension, and may be expected, with an accession of population, to become very flourishing. There are three merchants settled at the post, who supply, at very exorbitant prices, the inhabitants with the...