.MTM3MQ.MTE2NjUz

21 Observations made by the Eliot - relative to the Kentucky colony - Trinity River &c.

   ______________________________________________________
 Pursuing one route from Fort Houston to Dallas we passed a sandy broken? and saw an instimal? spot like an rasi?

in the desert almost uninhabitable country. The route passing its course the dirsding? Highlands between the Rivers Trinity & Neches selects the pmest? & most unproductive soil in its passage that could possibly be found. There is not the code a short distance either to the right or left for we then find a rich & productive soil abounding with excellent timber & spring water.

On our approach to Rock Ioirkas?, the face of the country exhibits an entirely different appearance. From a ?thing broken & rocky district

we descend to an almost unbroken soil ^ A timbered country, but of a shallow ashy & unproductive soil. After miles passed and the prairies of Lacy's fork open upon the view, rich verdant and mantled with flowers of every hue. From the point to Red River in a N.W. direction the same general description will almost invariably apply. That is the country is prairie intersected by wooded streams affording timber^ infrenant in all purposes for many years to come & abounding in Limestone Springs, and creeks. The soil is deep black and sandy having a limestone foundation at considerable depth. In some places ^ although rarely we find gravel & stones intermingled with the soil. The Prairie east of Bois D'Arc is of the hog-wallow character, the white rock, of a yellow sandy nature, & on the El? fork of a deep chocolate colour, all equally rich and productive.

 The cross timbers running through the colony in a N.E. direction, is a Section or Belt of timber land of a loose yellow soil covered with an

undergrowth of vines, samesh, red-bud &c indications of production, yet the land is not so lasting as the prairie. Beyond a ?ichard? of the cross timbers