From the occasional occurrence of the skulls of deer and elk with the horns interlocked with each other, and from the fact above mentioned, it appears that the contests of these animals at the rutting season often prove fatal to both parties. From the form of the horns, and the manner of fighting, it seems probable they must often be entangled with each other, and when this is the case both fall an easy prey to the wolves. The Saline has an entire length of about one hundred and fifty miles, running all the way nearly parallel to the Washita, to its confluence near the latitude 33° north. After entering the state of Louisiana, the Washita receives from the east the Barthelemi, the Boeuf, the Macon, and the Tensa, all of which, having their sources near the west bank of the Mississippi, may be considered as inosculating branches of that river, since at times of high floods they are fed from the Mississippi. The western tributaries are the Saluder, Derbane, and Ocatahoola, deriving their sources from a spur of the Ozark mountains, which, in the northern part of Louisiana, divides the broad alluvial valley of Red river from that of the Mississippi. About twenty miles south-west from the confluence of the Tensa, Washita, and Ocatahoola, {162} the latter expands into a considerable lake, and sends off a branch to Red river. Indeed the Washita might, without great impropriety, be considered as entering the Mississippi at the point where its waters unite with those of the Ocatahoola and Tensa. The periodical inundations cover the country westward to this point, and even in times of low water the channels communicating with the Mississippi are numerous. From this point there is an uninterrupted connexion, through a system of lakes and watercourses, stretching along parallel to the Mississippi, about thirty miles distant, and communicating, through the river and lake Atchafalaya, with the gulf of Mexico, at a point more than one hundred and fifty miles west of the principal debouchure of the Mississippi.[47] FOOTNOTES: [33] For the following topics mentioned in this chapter, see Nuttall's _Journal_, in our volume xiii: Derdonai (note 146), Hot Springs (135), Hunter and Dunbar (211), Petit Jean River (140), Le Fevre (119, 132), Poteau River (169), roads in Arkansas (126), Kiamichi River (177), Saline of Ouachita (125).--ED. [34] Richard Kirwan (1733-1812), an Irishman, ranked as one of the most brilliant scientific thinkers of his time. His studies included chemistry, geology, mineralogy, and agriculture. Many of his writings were translated into other languages.--ED. [35] Hunter and Dunbar.--JAMES. [36] The sources of Ouachita River are near the western state line in Polk County.--ED.