A discussion of a rather short lived but very powerful union of riverboat pilots. This is a brief sketch of their formation and development and the demise of the industry.
Early environmental damage to the rivers by plantation owners and an interesting bit of river piloting by a sleep walker.
As a cure for his developing airs, Mr Bixby gives Mark advanced lessons in navigating the river.
This chapter contains an eloquent passage on the attendant lose of beauty resultant from a gain in knowledge.
Mark doubts his ability to learn everything necessary to become a pilot but Mr. Bixby insists he will either learn him or kill him.
The riverboats often had a small population of unemployed pilots, there for the free ride and to stay informed of the river's condition. In this chapter they get to witness an impressive bit of piloting by Mark's pilot, Mr. Bixby.
Early commerce on the Mississippi River and a chapter originally written for Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, a profile on the raftsmen. This chapter also contains an interesting bit of dialog regarding geophagy.
