The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-05-21

ehat coast, and that it has been well executed.
But the work consumed much more time, and
greater portion ofthe appropriation than had
been apprehc nded f, for which reason, the re-
ma s6er has not been surveyed.
In addition TO the surveys aforementioned the
bayou on which the Balize stands was also exa-
mined, and the most proper island for the cree
zion Of light house at the entrance of the Mis-
aissippi, has been selected.
have the honor 10 he, &c.
ALBERT GALLATIN.
Tie honorable the
President ofthe senate.
THere follow Che instructions OF the Secreta-
- of the Treasury 10 M Lewis de Nun, in
structing him in what nsnner to perform the
survey, &c. Sci
Of surOey ofcoast of .he Territory of Or
Jeans Pursuant 20 the act of .dflrH 21St
1906.
LEWIS DE NUN.
70 THE HON ALBERT eALrATIN, sRcRE+
TARY OF THE TREASURY.
WAsHINGToN, July 20, 1907.
SIR,
I do myself the honor to transmit to you this
result IF my operations the coast OF Louisi-
ana--I regret, infinitely, that have il not in
nv power GO give you detailed knowledge of
Oh part of the coast which l was ordered
60 survey but being limited to period OF 6
Tbs, fe: NY whole work, hardly hsd time
70 &c n general view of that very intricate and
da" gerous coast, and to begin my operations, by
cDWpetng q survey of the pass of ChafaISya, &
of I'll Bayou Teche, before it was expired, and
w obliged to return. What have done will
give yOu some idea of the patience, perseyer
an> nd labor which wall be required to com
pl-.e this undertaking and also prove that il wni
be 4 rk OF no short time.
.ai~ IL lriaa Tul,
4edi1us passage arrived in New Orleans on the
12t' cf Sept. following Immediately applied,
according 10 your instruction, to the colccl or of
Sbe port, for the revenue cutter that was to car.
ry me my survey. The cutter was IN the n
YER but did not get up to town until several
days afterwards, and having suffered a little in
her sails and rigging, on the dreadful night of
the hurricane (the night of the 18th Sep) she
was necessarily detained some time to repair,
rs well as TO engage hands, very difficult mat
Ter in New Orleans, We did not leave the CT
2y before the 18th of Oct. and arrived at the Ba-
liz on The 18th examined and surveyed some
Islands at the mouth of the Mississippi, on one
of wnich it was intended 10 build lighthouse
I also examined the foundation near the block
hCuse, and found it better than on tbs Island
but nevertheless, the island seemed to me ST.
tuation very far superior, for number Of rea-
sons, which explained in the first report had
che nonor to transmit to you, and to which
have nothing more to add" left the Balize
on tie 22d of October, proceeded to the west
word, and arrived on tile Is n in sight of Belle
tsIe, tie place where was to begin my sur
vey. The shoalr and oyster banks extending
our 20 sea between four & five leagues and Ieav.
E1g y very narrow and intricate channel,
gender the entrance of the Chatal1td very diff
cult and dangerous, although the capt had
Been here once before, days getting
M, We ran ashore several times. l have taken
&C Ia ate souDdngs at this Place and find that il
won'd be impossible to bring in more than seven
feet of water, and not always as much On ac-
Dount Of all these difficulties, and the bad wea-
eher 1t was imposs bic for me to begin my sur
WY before the 3lst Oct
eotered on my operations at the mouth of a
bayou to the westward OF Beleise which by e.
very account, the best pass of the Chafdaya
lhto which last river the Teche empties itself -
From tn mouth of this bayou up wards to the
Chatslaya, never found less than one & half
fsthom' Of w ter, and sometimes as much as 81
g. 10. in tie navigation OF this bayou there is
no difficulty to encounter, but its narrowness &
sudden turns, which make it almost impossible
Go sail up unless the wind should favor YOU very
much. 1 would ways advise vessels bound UP
the Teche, To go to the nam branch ofthe Cha
falaya, which fails into the sea in the same BAY
about FIVE Leagues to the eastward Of Bclleis!
Tke DarTowHess OF this bayou, the mpOssbslity
oflsnding on account of the marshes and llj-
tle higher up towards Chafalaya,he trees hang
Iog over the water almost half way across the
bayou, rendered It's survey very tedious, 4 the
progress very slow.
Abort one and a half leagues above the place
where THIS bayou (Which IS called the Little
Wa beyoHJ branches out the Chaialaya, are
fou1d We a. 1t plantations. The Chafalsya here
~ most beautiful river, about three fourths of
q 10 ie wide, aud having from ~ TO "a fsthoms
Of water IN the channel the tide is felt here
Eely strongly and when the wind has been tor
asme lcng,n OF time from the southwark and
ath np Jnfp r. qe rch ftse-t
but the greatest food ~ the Mississippi never
Faises Il more ti,an fcel.--~--Jhis informa-
zion had from one Samuel Rice, who lives on
M is and Ct his own name sRd the first planta-
ZION on this river.--Below this there is nothing
but marsh 10 be found, but here the land is a.
bout six sect above the level Of the waterat low
watlr, and is never ovel flowed. 1t is covered
with the most beautiful timber, principally live
oaks and green oaks, Of various species The
land is excellent, aud would produce sugar,
cane cotton very well but the Inhabitants
-
This rehort, 70hich has been so far acg-
Ell uflon as 20 make C selection offhe PRO
Fer scife f9r a i.ght ho1se, has been mic
i1id. The dr0ffs are at the Treasury 81
therefor srated that the soil 7Uos Guy, and
NO qOa'tr .IouHd after BORING TO The deftth
oTJor fUr |eef no coA'rac. hue geg been