The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 34, July 1930 - April, 1931 Page: 26
359 p. : ill., maps ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Southwestern Historical Quarterly
very sickly here this season, the inhabitants look as if they had
escaped from the grave-yard. The cotton in this settlement looks
fine, corn indifferent, perhaps for want of propper cultivation. The
leaves of the cotton throughout this section of country have been
entirely eat up by catterpillers, injuring the crop somewhat, not
serious. We are now on the waters of the Trinity. The best
stream for navigation in Texas, perhaps.
13th - Passed fort Houston this morning. A rude block
house that seen some squaly times in 36-7-8 &9. A store, and
half dozen cabins around the fort. Crossed the Trinity, at Park-
ers Bluff, a deep narrow and crooked stream, border'd by extensive
swampy bottoms. On the southeastern side at the p [1]ace of cross-
ing there is a glade prairie 6 miles wide and 10 long, so level
you can distinguish no undulations whatever. It is cover'd with
coarse grass as high a horses back, yet so level is it, that when on
horse back you can see every part of the plain, although containing
an area of not less than 30 square miles. In the spring this plain
is cover'd with water to the depth of 10 feet by the overflow of the
river. The low woody hills that border this bottom are dotted
here and there by the cabins and enclosures of the hardy settler.
These hills are very thinly timbered with hickory, post, red, and
black oak. On their sides, from the prairie may be seen hundreds
of cattle and horses quietly grazing. These hills, five or six years
since were cover'd with deer, buffalow and mustangs. I was
shown, at the foot of the hills, the scull and other bones of
several negroes killed by the Indians six years ago. High roling
prairie, very sandy and coverd in places with low scrubby black-
jacks, wholly worthless, except for fuel. Passed two saline marshes,
to day. There has been salt manufactured at both: great num-
bers of cattle around them. Got to a miserable cabin at 9 o'clock
- family all sick- but little to eat and paid 1 dollar each for
that little.
14th. Rode today as yesterday, over high prairie, water scarce.
No house for 40 miles. Rode 25 and camped by a creek, at 3 in
the evening, and turned out to hunt buffalow - found none, re-
turned late in the evening, much fatigued and feeling unwell:
had nothing to eat, drank a cup of coffee without sugar and lay
down to sleep, where Rattle Snakes, Adders, Mockasins, Tarantulas,
and Santipedes, were plenty as blueberries.
15th. Arose this morning with a violent pain in my head and
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 34, July 1930 - April, 1931, periodical, 1931; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101091/m1/30/: accessed April 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.