The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 13, July 1909 - April, 1910 Page: 52
341 p. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Texas Historical Association Quarterly.
this is the most remarkable stream I have ever seen-at its junc-
tion with the San Jacinto is about 150 yds in breadth having
about three fathoms water with little variation in depth as high
up as Harrisburg-20 miles-the ebbing and flowing of the tide
is observable about 12 miles higher the water being of navigable
depth close up to each bank giving to this most enchanting little
stream the appearance of an artificial canal in the design and
course of which Nature has lent her masterly hand; for its mean-
derings and beautiful curvatures seem to have been directed by
a taste far too exquisite for human attainment-most of its course
is bound in by timber and flowering shrubbery which overhang its
grassy banks and dip and reflect their variegated hues in its un-
ruffled waters these impending shrubs are in places overtopped by
the evergreen magnolia rising in tfe grandeur of its excellence to
the reach of deserved pre-eminence where it unfolds its far-scented
magnificence; softening to the eye of admiration the dazzling
lustre of its expansive bloom by agreeable blendings with the deep
sea-green of its umbrageous foliage-the banks of this stream are
secured from the lavings of the water by, what are here termed
"cypress knees"-these are apparently exuberances of cypress roots
and shoot up along the margin of the waters to the height of three
and four feet and from 3 to 10 inches in diameter without leaf or
branch; and so closely and regularly are they often found stand-
ing in lines as to resemble piles driven in purposely as security
against the innovation of the tides-often along these shady banks
have I rowed my little skiff and wondered if ever some Bard had
consecrated its border shades by a correspondent flow of song-if
some native Ossian had ever breathed forth in his artless strains
the dictates of an inspired Muse. I thought of other streams
immortalized, and thought that this might by its enchanting beau-
ties give immortality to some future Bard-for it can not forever
be "by fame neglected and unknown to song" and "creep inglor-
ious like a vulgar stream."
Harrisburg is laid out on the west side of this bayou just below
its junction with Bray's bayou-it is yet in the woods consisting
of 6 or 8 houses scatteringly situated-the timber consisting prin-
cipally of tall pine and oaks so excludes the prairie breezes as to
render the Summer's heat almost intolerable, but this can be the
case but for a short time--being situated at the head of navigation
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Texas State Historical Association. The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 13, July 1909 - April, 1910, periodical, 1910; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101051/m1/60/: accessed March 29, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.