LIFE ON THE MISSISSIPPI

BY MARK TWAIN

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER I.
The Mississippi is Well worth Reading about.—It is Remarkable.—
Instead of Widening towards its Mouth, it grows Narrower.—It Empties
four hundred and six million Tons of Mud.—It was First Seen in 1542.
—It is Older than some Pages in European History.—De Soto has
the Pull.—Older than the Atlantic Coast.—Some Half-breeds chip
in.—La Salle Thinks he will Take a Hand.

CHAPTER II.
La Salle again Appears, and so does a Cat-fish.—Buffaloes also.
—Some Indian Paintings are Seen on the Rocks.—“The Father of
Waters “does not Flow into the Pacific.—More History and Indians.
—Some Curious Performances—not Early English.—Natchez, or
the Site of it, is Approached.

CHAPTER III.
A little History.—Early Commerce.—Coal Fleets and Timber Rafts.
—We start on a Voyage.—I seek Information.—Some Music.—The
Trouble begins.—Tall Talk.—The Child of Calamity.—Ground
and lofty Tumbling.—The Wash-up.—Business and Statistics.—
Mysterious Band.—Thunder and Lightning.—The Captain speaks.
—Allbright weeps.—The Mystery settled.—Chaff.—I am Discovered.
—Some Art-work proposed.—I give an Account of Myself.—Released.

CHAPTER IV.
The Boys' Ambition.—Village Scenes.—Steamboat Pictures.
—A Heavy Swell.—A Runaway.

CHAPTER V.
A Traveller.—A Lively Talker.—A Wild-cat Victim

CHAPTER VI.
Besieging the Pilot.—Taken along.—Spoiling a Nap.—Fishing for a
Plantation.—“Points” on the River.—A Gorgeous Pilot-house.

CHAPTER VII.
River Inspectors.—Cottonwoods and Plum Point.—Hat-Island Crossing.
—Touch and Go.—It is a Go.—A Lightning Pilot

CHAPTER VIII.
A Heavy-loaded Big Gun.—Sharp Sights in Darkness.—Abandoned to
his Fate.—Scraping the Banks.—Learn him or Kill him.

CHAPTER IX.
Shake the Reef.—Reason Dethroned.—The Face of the Water.
—A Bewitching Scene.-Romance and Beauty.

CHAPTER X.
Putting on Airs.—Taken down a bit.—Learn it as it is.—The River
Rising.

...