A River Runs Through It

A River Runs Through It. . , Louisiana's abundant rivers and bayous provided essential paths for travel and trade. Merchandise, people, animals, communications, and even diseases were carried on the waters by dugouts, barges and steamboats over the centuries. The Red River played a central role in the development of Magnolia Plantation and in the lives of everyone on the plantation., The Red River was a linked system of Old River, Cane River, Little River, and the Rigolet de Bon Dieu. It connected inland Natchitoches to New Orleans and beyond, giving Cane River plantations access to global trade. Steamboats could deliver provisions directly to larger plantations on their way toward Natchitoches, then pick up cotton and other goods for the return trip to New Orleans., The Caddo. , Prior to the arrival of European settlers, the Cane River was home to the Adaes and the Natchitoches, tribes of the Caddo Nation. These native peoples used the river resources in a variety of ways. The river cane was woven into baskets and other items. Freshwater mussel shells were used as temper in Caddoan pottery and later for shell buttons.