Life on the Mississippi
by Mark Twain
BUT the basin of the Mississippi is the Body of The Nation. All the other parts are but members, important in themselves, yet more important in their relations to this. Exclusive of the Lake basin and of 300,000 square miles in Texas and New Mexico, which in many aspects form a part of it, this basin contains about 1,250,000 square miles. In extent it is the second great valley of the world, being exceeded only by that of the Amazon. The valley of the frozen Obi approaches it in extent; that of La Plata comes next in space, and probably in habitable capacity, having about eight-ninths of its area; then comes that of the Yenisei, with about seven-ninths; the Lena, Amoor, Hoang-ho, Yang-tse-kiang, and Nile, five-ninths; the Ganges, less than one-half; the Indus, less than one-third; the Euphrates, one-fifth; the Rhine, one-fifteenth. It exceeds in extent the whole of Europe, exclusive of Russia, Norway, and Sweden. It would contain austria four times, germany or spain five times, france six times, the british islands or italy ten times. Conceptions formed from the river-basins of Western Europe are rudely shocked when we consider the extent of the valley of the Mississippi; nor are those formed from the sterile basins of the great rivers of Siberia, the lofty plateaus of Central Asia, or the mighty sweep of the swampy Amazon more adequate. Latitude, elevation, and rainfall all combine to render every part of the Mississippi Valley capable of supporting a dense population. As a dwelling-place for civilized man it is by far the first upon our globe.
EDITOR’S TABLE, HARPER’S MAGAZINE, FEBRUARY 1863
Table of Contents
Chapter I - The River and its History
Chapter II - The River and Its Explorers
Chapter III - Frescoes from the Past
Chapter IV - The Boys' Ambition
Chapter V - I Want to Be a Cub-pilot
Chapter VI - A Cub Pilot's Experience
Chapter VIII - Perplexing Lessons
Chapter IX - Continued Perplexities
Chapter X - Completing My Education
Chapter XIII - A Pilot's Needs
Chapter XIV - Rank and Dignity of Piloting
Chapter XV - The Pilots' Monopoly
Chapter XVII - Cut-offs and Stephen
Chapter XVIII - I Take a Few Extra Lessons
Chapter XIX - Brown and I Exchange Compliments
Chapter XXI - A Section in My Biography
Chapter XXII - I Return to My Muttons
Chapter XXIII - Traveling Incognito
Chapter XXIV - My Incognito Is Exploded
Chapter XXV - From Cairo to Hickman
Chapter XXVII - Some Imported Articles
Chapter XXVIII - Uncle Mumford Unloads
Chapter XXIX - A Few Specimen Bricks
Chapter XXX - Sketches by the Way
Chapter XXXI - A Thumb-print and What Came of It
Chapter XXXII - The Disposal of a Bandana
Chapter XXXIII - Refreshments and Ethics
Chapter XXXV - Vicksburg During the Trouble
Chapter XXXVI - The Professor's Yarn
Chapter XXXVII - The End of the "Gold Dust"
Chapter XXXVIII - The House Beautiful
Chapter XXXIX - Manufactures and Miscreants
Chapter XL - Castles and Culture
Chapter XLI - The Metropolis of the South
Chapter XLII - Hygiene and Sentiment
Chapter XLIII - The Art of Inhumation
Chapter XLVI - Enchantments and Enchanters
Chapter XLVII - Uncle Remus and Mr. Cable
Chapter XLVIII - Sugar and Postage
Chapter XLVIX - Episodes in Pilot Life
Chapter L - The "Original Jacobs"
Chapter LIII - My Boyhood's Home
Chapter LIV - Past and Present
Chapter LV - A Vendetta and Other Things
Chapter LVI - A Question of Law
Chapter LVIII - On the Upper River
Chapter LIX - Legends and Scenery
Chapter LX - Speculations and Conclusions
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