Part II of Flagg's The Far West, 1836-1837
Reprint of chapters xxxiii-xli of Volume II of original edition: New York, 1838
CONTENTS
| XXXIII | |
| Blackness of Darkness—Fall of a Forest-tree—A sublime Incident—Musings—AMoral—A Wolf—A Meal—A Mistake—Abroiling Sun—The "Heights of Chester"—A nobleView—An Island—A "Bend"—A Steamer—Chester—Siteand Anticipations—A romantic Pathway—The Sycamores—TheUndergrowth—The Bluffs—Forest Quietude—Thewild-grape Vines—Size, Tortuosity, and Tenacity—AJuliet-bower—A Prediction—Kaskaskia Bottom—Anelegant Farm and Mansion—The Outhouses—The Harvest-fieldsand Grounds—The Bluffs—The Village | [19] |
| XXXIV | |
| Antiqueness—A Proposition and Corollary—"All is New"—Freshnessof Natural Scenery—The immigrant Inhabitants—AnException—A serious Duty—A laudable Resolution—Agay Bevy—A Hawser-ferry—A Scene on the Kaskaskia—"OldKaskaskia"—Structure of Dwellings—Aspect of Antiquity—AContrast—"City of the Pilgrims"—The Scenes ofa Century—Lane-like Streets—Old Customs—"The Parallelceases"—The same Fact with the Spaniards—The Cause—TheFrench Villagers—The Inn-gallery—A civil Landlord—TheTable d'Hôte—A Moonlight Ramble—The oldChurch—The Courthouse—The fresh Laugh—The Piano—TheBrunettes | [26] |
| XXXV | |
| The Explorers of the West—The French Jesuits—Cause of theUndertaking—The Tale of the Hunters—Marquette andJoliet viii—Their Exploration—The Natives—The Illini—AVillage—Manito of the Missouri—The Illinois—AmazedDelight—Joliet's Narrative—Marquette—Nameto the River—Joliet's Reward—Lapse of Years—M. Robert,Cavalier de la Salle—His Talent, Ambition, and Enterprise—Visitto Canada—Success at Paris—Tonti and Hennepin—Exploration—TheIllinois—An Indian Village—The Hoardof Corn—Peoria Lake—Treatment by the Natives—Loss ofthe Supply-boat—Fort "Creve Cœur"—Its Site—"SpringBay"—The Indian War—Danger of La Salle—The Mutiny—ThePoison—Exploration of the Mississippi—The Falls—Captivity—Hennepin'sTravels—Character of these earlyWriters—"Fort St. Louis"—Second Expedition of La Salle—TheOsage—A Village of Natives—The Oubachi—FortPrudhomme—Formal Possession—Louisiana—Ceremoniesat the Gulf—River "St. Louis"—Villages founded—Fateof La Salle—Retributive Justice—Fate of Marquette—Deceaseand Burial—Canadian Colonies—Their Design—MiningExpeditions—M. de Seur—Disappointment—Couriersdu bois—Petits Paysans—Merry Mortals—Originof Kaskaskia—Name—Depôt of Fur-trade—De Soto andthe Tradition—His Death and Burial—Original Extent ofKaskaskia—The "Common Field"—The Grant—Policyof French and Spanish Governments—"Common Fields" and"Commons"—Regulations—Congress-grants—Harmonywith the Savages—The Cause—Exaggeration—Early Peaceand Prosperity—Jesuit College—Law's Scheme—The Design—LesIllinois—The Failure—The "South Sea Bubble"—Prosperityof Kaskaskia—Luxuriance of Agriculture—Achimerical Design—Cession and Recession—An unwelcomeChange—Removal and the Causes | [34] |
| XXXVI | |
| Portraiture of Character—The Difficulty—The French Villagerof the Mississippi—His ordinary Deportment—Hospitality—Lawsand Courts—Scholastic Proficiency—Affairs of theNation—"A Burden!"—Their Virtues—The Helpmate—ReligiousFaith—Festivals—Their Property—The Change—TheirAvocations—Their Idiom—A Contrast—The Peculiarities—Costume—Amusements—Slaves—EarlyGovernment—Anunwelcome Change—"Improvement!"—A hatefulix Term—The Steam-engine—The old Edifices—TheStreets—Advantages of the Change—The Contrast—Thepoorer Class—Evils of the Change—Superior Enterprise | [52] |
| XXXVII | |
| Delay on an interesting Subject—Peculiarities of French andSpanish Villages similar—Social Intercourse—Old Legends—DreamySeclusion—Commercial Advantages of Kaskaskia—TheTrade—The River—The Land-office—Population—FortGage—Clarke's Expedition—The Catholic Church—Erection—ItsExterior—The Interior—The Altar-lamp—Structureof the Roof—Surprise of the Villagers—Interdicton the Architect—The Belfry—The Bell—View from theTower—The Churchyard—The first Record—Old Chronicles—TheNunnery—The Seminary—Departure from Kaskaskia—Farmsof the French—A Reminiscence—"IndianOld Point"—Extermination of the Norridgewocks—Details—TheObelisk to Father Rasle—Route to Prairie du Rocher—Aubuchon—Profusionof wild Fruit—Nuts—Grapes—AWine Story—Mode of Manufacture—The Cliffs of Prairiedu Rocher—"Common Field"—Productions—The Bayou—AScene of Blood—A Century Slumber—Peculiarities—Viewfrom the Cliffs—Petrifactions—Simplicity and Ignorance—Characteristicsof the French Villager—The CatholicChurch—Unhealthy Site—Cause of a Phenomenon | [59] |
| XXXVIII | |
| The Western Valley—Early Conception of its Extent inadequate—TheFrench Cordon of Fortification—Origin of the Policy—Stationsof Posts erected—Fort Chartres—Groves of wildFruit—The Dark-browed Villager—His direction to theRuins—Desertion and Dreariness of the Spot—SolemnEffect of the old Pile in the Forest—Coup d'œil—The MississippiSlough—Erection of Fort Chartres—The Design—Expense—Material—Rebuilding—VillageCession, Recession,and the Results—Seat of Power—Form and Extent—Preservationof the Masonry—French Engineering—OriginalStructure of the Fortress—The Pride of its Prime—Its Scenes—The"Golden Age"—The "old Residenters"—The Pompof War—A Shelter for the Night | [73] |
| x XXXIX | |
| Fort Chartres—A romantic Scene—Legendary Lore—Erectionof Fort Chartres—Enormous Expenditure—NeedlessStrength—The Engineer—His Fate—The "Buried Treasure"—TheMoney-diggers—Their Success—The "WesternHannibal"—Expedition against Vincennes—Capture of theFrench Villages—Siege of Fort Chartres—A successful Rusedu Guerre—A Scrap of History—The Capture of Fort Vincent—TheStratagem—Fort Du Quesne—Erection andHistory—Useless Strength—A Morning Scene—PhilippeFrancis Renault—His Mining Operations—The Village St.Philippe—The Cottonwood Forest—The Mississippi!—AMistake—A weary Plod—An Atmosphere of Pestilence—Causesof Disease—Salubrious Site for a Cabin—Precautionsfor the Emigrant—Diseases of the West—Fevers—SicklyMonths—"Milk Sickness"—Its Cause and Effects—Feverand Ague—An Escape—A sick Family—The Consumptive—Refreshment—Anearly Settler | [85] |
| XL | |
| The "Squatter"—His Character and Person—A View fromthe Bluffs—The ancient Indian Village—Reliques—TheSquatter's Reflections—His Wanderings—A Discovery—TheGrave of a Chief—The Ancient Burial-grounds—HumanRemains—A Coffin of Stone—The "Pigmy Race"—AnInvestigation—Ancient Pottery—The Turtle—The Sink-holes—Waterloo—ItsWindmill and Courthouse—Bellefontaine—Anevening Ride—"Hail Columbia!"—An immortalName—A very poor Pun—A miserable Night—A pleasantDawn—The American Bottom—Its Name—Extent—Boundaries—Bluffs—Lakes,their Cause and Consequence—Diseasean Obstacle to Settlement—The Remedy—TheGrand Marais—The Soil—Its Fertility—Theappropriate Production | [97] |
| XLI | |
| The American Bottom—Its alluvial Character—An interestingQuery—The Ancient Lake—The Southern Limit—TheParapet of Stone—Alluvial Action on the Cliffs—Asimilar Expansion—The Eastern Limit and the Western—The"Mamelle xi Prairie"—Elevation of Country North—Causeof the Draining—The Rocks at "Grand Tower"—Abrasionof Waters—Volcanic Action—A Tide-spring—The"Blockhouse"—Geology of the Region—VolcanicConvulsions—Impress of Omnipotence—Reflections suggested—Ignoranceand Indifference on the Subject—Remarksof Dr. Buckland and Cuvier—A very ancient Revolution—HugeRemains—Theory of Cuvier—Productions ofthe American Bottom—The Farms—Prairie-flowers—Mounds—Prairiedu Pont—Refreshment—A novel Churn—Adisagreeable Village—Cahokia—The Indian Tribe—TheSettlement—The Mississippi—The Creek—HarmoniousIntercourse—A Contrast—Early Inhabitants of Cahokia—Peculiaritiesof the Village—The "Common Field"—Grantof Congress—Cahokia at the present Time—Routeto St. Louis—Sunset on the Water—View of the City—Moonlight—Arrivalat St. Louis—A Farewell! | [108] |