WASHITAU, north-eastern parish of Louisi ana, bounded by Tensaw river, separating it from Concordia, S E., by Ocatahoola parish S., Natch itoches S.NV., Clairbo•ne \V., and Lafayette, Union and Chicot counties of Arkansas N. Length from east to west, 90 miles, mean breadth 50, and area 5400 square miles. Extending in Lat. from 48' to 33° N. and in Long. from le 15' to 15° 46,W. from NV. C. This comparatively extensive region, exceeding in extent some of the states of the States, is entirely comprised within, and except the mountainous part, presents an epitome of the whole Wtishitau valley. The main volume of the Washitau river enters its northern side and traverses the whole parish in a nearly southern di rection, dividing it into two not very unequal sec tions, and receiving within its limits the Salitter and Terrebonne fro the right, and the Barthe berry from the left. The Siard island is very near the centre of the parish. The eastern section is traversed from northeast to southwest by the Boeuf. From the southwestern angle issue some of the higher sources of Ocatahoola. The general slope being snuthwa I CI. With but little exception, the section west of the Washitau river is covered with a fine forest; the surface waving and soil rather sterile. To the latter character there are exceptions along the. streams. On the eastern side above and eastward of Bayou Siard island, pine woods again and extend to the Tensaw, with the low grounds or the Boeuf inter vening. The south-eastern part reaches the annu
ally inundated extremes of the Delta.
Small, and some of them very fertile prairies are dotted over the north-eastern section, but the nine teen-twentieths or the whole parish, in its natural state, was covered with a dense forest, great part of which remains untouched by the hand of man. Settlements are, however, extended over every part where any arable soil is found, and along the truly productive soil of the Washitau fine farms are cul tivated to advantage.
By the post office list of 1831, there were offices at Monroe, Caldwell's, Hamilton, Lake Providence and Pecan Grove. In 1820 the population amounted to 2896, and in 1830, to 5140, having gained in ten years at a ratio of 130 per ceut.
Monroe, the seat of justice, is a village on the east bank of the Washitau river, about two miles be low the lower extreme of Bayou Siard island, by post road 1258 miles S 1V. by W. from \V. C., and 323 miles NAV. from New Orleans. In direct dis tance, Monroe is N.N.W. 80 miles, bat by the road via the junction of Tensaw and Ocatahoola with the Washitau, about ;20 miles from Natchez. N. Lat. 32° 30', Long. 12' W. from W. C.