Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1803-11-19

4
Enplisll b-nd is settlement known By the names
os the Poblaccn de ST Bsfnardus or the lefre aux
pous., extending on both sides OF creek or
drain, whose head is contiguous TO the Mississp-
hi. and which flowing eas,wari, after course
Of leagues, and dividing itself info two branches
Tails into tbe sea and lake Bo:gu-. This settle.
Ement consists ottwo parishes; almost all the IN.
habita:ts Of wh Oh ale Spaniards from the Gamma
ries, who conte6t theirs Ives with raising fowls,
fcorIl, and garden stuff F., rhe market at New
Orleans. The lardB cannot be ulslv.tel TO any
gsr.t distance from rs 6anks OF the creek, ac-
soun: ofT.e vicinity of the marsh behind them,
.s.t tie places susceptible Of great Improvement
and Of affarding aaothef communications 70 small
craft Of :r3la eigl.r to s-s feet c.aeght bst"ssa
sic sra and the Mississippi.
.S.fiitm<nfs beio7y tie Engl;6 sssrv.
At the distance of fifteen leagues below New
Orleans, the settlements on both backs OF tic
RIVER are of but small accolAt. Between these
and tie fort OF P;aquemines. the ccnnfy-is over
.fowed III the spr,ug and III many places is inca
pable OF cultivation at any time, -brlrg amorass
almost impossible by n,aa beast. This small
tongue Of land extends considerably into tho sea
which is VISIBLE on 5oth s!dzs Of inc MISSISSIPPI
from ships mast.
Country fran fis73ew;4es 70 RE s.a, and ira
eff6e lfxrrifane,.
From Plaquemlnes 70 the sea is twelve or thir..
teen leagues. The country is low, swsmpy,
chiefly covered with reeds, having little o. no
timber, and no settlement whatever. It may be
necessary to mention here, that the whole lower
part of the country from The English Turn down,
ward, IS subject TO CycraowDg In hurricanes,
either by the recoiing of the RIVER rstlux from
the sea on each side ana OH more than one
occasion i, has been covered from the depth of
two TO ten feet, according TO tie descent of the
river, whereby many lives were lcsr, horses and
cattle swept away AID scene Of destruction LAID.
The last calamity of this kind happened ,n-i794
but fortunately they are not teauent. In the
preceding year the engineer who superintendent
the erection of the fort Of Piaouemines was drown
ed in his house near the fort, and the wo krncn
and garrison escaped only by taking refvge on an
elevated spot IN the fort, OH winch there were
notwithstanding, two Or three feet of water
These hurricanes have generally been fe!t in the
month of August. Their greatest fury lasts "a
bouttwel hours. They commence i'll the south
east, veer about to aiiponts OF tic compass, are
felt most severely below, and seldom cx.eHd more
than few leagues above New Orleans. Ii their
whole course they are marked With Tu;n and de-
ISOLATION. .Uatil that Of 1898, there had been
none felt from the year 1880.
Paats, or Moxtbs Of tie Missgrtsi.
About eight leagues below Pl,qacn}inss the
Mississippi divides itself into three channels, which
are called the Passes Of the river, viz. the East
South, & Southwest Passes. Their course is:from
to e.leagues to the sea. The space between is
marsh with little or timber on it; but from
its situation, it may hereafter be rendered Of i'm
porsance. The East Pass, which is Oh the left
hand going down the river, is divided into two
Branches about two leagues below, viz. the Pass
la Loutre, and that known TO mariners by TIE
name OF tho Baize, at which there is imall block
house and some huts of the pilots, who reside on
" here. The FIRST of these secondary chan
nes contains at present but eight feet wa,er
the latter frcm tsuftesa to sixteen. according TO
the seasons. The sou;h Pass, which i, directly
ia front Of she Mississippi, has always been con-
sdered as entirely choakcd up, but has ten fee,
water. The South West pass, which is on he
right is'the longest and nzrow:ssof all the Pass.
es, and few years 40 had eighteen feet wates,
and was that by which the large ships Away ep-
tered and sailed from the Mississippi. 1t has
now bur eight feet water, and will p:obab.y re-
main so for some time. In Speaking of'th- guam.
thy of water in the Passes, it must be understood
OF shas.is onthe bar of each Pas for immedi-
aiely after passing the bar (which is very narrow,
there are i:om Eve TO scyc. tashoms at all sea.
sons.
Coas.y fae efhIe Poarlaurais.
The country on the Ela Fl &c of lake P,nchar-
train to Mobile, aad including The whole extent
between the Ameficaa ncthe * Mid;EPpi above
New: Orleans, and the lakcs with the exception
Ola trae Of about 50 miles on the VI .liappi,
aod &c nm. {ou,re co ,ti Ynooe Ia ths jipe and