The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-03-08

Z
; country on the Mississippi, between that and
New Orleans. is extracted from the travels
of the intelligent G. ScHyLTz, and from the
peculiar situation OF that country, may be ac-
ceptable to many Of our readers :l-dggusta
Chronicle
NEW ORLEANS, April 90, 1910.
DEAR FRIEND, as
Baton Rouge lies on the east side
OF the river, and is the only Spanish post on the
Mississippi, occupied by garrison This fort
IS said to contain park oil two hundred pieces
of artillery, with ammunition and other military
stores in proportion. The garrison is rated at
ak hundred men, bat at present there rs not
quite two hundred, most of them having de-
serted up the country. This is the depot which
IT is said Burr and Co. intended to seize, in or
der to equip themselves for greater enterprises
and had he attempted it with one hundred Ken
tuckisns, he would TO doubt have succeeded, as
nearly hsf the garrison was unfit for duty al
that time.
The village, which contains about one hundred
houses, make very indifferent appearance. IL is
situated on bluff about forty feet higher than
the annual foundations generally rise. This is
the last of the bluffs or highland you pass in
your course down the river. The evening before
our arrival at Baton Rouge, one OF our men shot
the last deer that we saw on the Mississippi
Game of every kind grows scarcer OH this river
rs you descend, and that which we found be-
low the Arkansas was very indifferent indeed.
Baton Rogue lies in lat. 50. %. N. long. 81. 10.
w.
From Baton Rouge you descend fifteen miles
10 the Bayou Manchac, or, as it is sometimes
called the Ibbervle River, being outlet of the
Mississippi on the left shore. This Bayou,
river, might with more propriety be called a
tural ditch canal, as Il is only during three
months OF the year that it can be navigatec at
all, and that by vessels that draw less than five
Il L.. L., 49,
of the year. When the river is high, it forms
communication with the river Ami,ie, which is
navigable for seventy or eighty miles, and with
the lakes of Maurepas and Pontchartrsin, and
thence along the bays ON the coast to Mobile
Bay. 1t is likewise the boundary between the
Epanish province of West Florida on that quar-
ter, and the Island of New Orleans which is
formed by the communication of this Bayou with
the lakes of the Mississippi
Eight miles below the Bayou Msnchac, on the
opposite side, you pass another outlet called the
Bayou Placquemine, which is said to fern a
communication with the Bayou Chaffal.ia.-
It has likewise easy inland communication by
several channels with the gulf west of New Or
feans, and particularly with the RICH and hou-
rishng settlements of Atscapas and Opelousas
These are situated on Little Red and Teshee
Rivers small streams which empty themselves
INTO Vermilion Bay, in the gulf OF Mexico, west
of New Orleans. Opelousas /, noted for breed
of horses, whose good qualities, for travelling
the immense wilderness which lie between most
OF the settlements, render them particularly ser
viceable. They may be had at ali prices between
fifteen and twenty dollars have indeed heard
of horses being sold as low as three or four dol
iers head but this is only applicable to the
wild horses of North Mexico Some scattered
droves OF these are frequently found beyond the
3wamps, ranging the prairies on the western
side of the river. Ten miles further you pass
the Manchac Church, on the LETT bank !; and
&wenty-two, more you see another on the oppo-
site side, distinguished by the name of La
Fourche Churche, likewise an outlet called
BAYOU La Eourche. This Bayou offers another
inland communication with the coast west Of
New Orleans, with which it communicates by
Two different channels from whence it has ia
ksn It's name of The Forks, or La Fourche--
1t likewise communicates with the settlements
of Atacapas and Opelousas, which extend quite
down the coast already noticed The lndi-
ans and French are better acquainted with this
Bayou by the name Of the Cmtamaches River,
from sTi ancient nation name, settled near
its mouth, which from being very powerful and
warke, has by wars and diseases dwindled a.
way to about thirty families. recoilect some
we'll authenticated facts of this nation, Cat the
time of La Sales unfortunate expedition to the
westward of their settiements,) being described
AS having actually been seen de,eurng the flesh
of enemies, who were either killed or taken in
battle
About six miles below this inlet we were
weather. bound for thirty hours, during which
time we experienced one of the most dreadful
thunder storms that ever witnessed. The
greater part of that day aid night, the Missis-
sippi exhibited constant war OF the ele-
ments. The wind, which blew perfect hurr-
cane, had raised most tremendous swell in the
river and had we not fortunately been on the
wind ward shore our boat in all probability would
have shared the fate Of two others, who passed
HIS, and were dashed to pieces on the opposite
side.
About ten miles below La Fourche, on the
left side, you have handsome view of the only
elegant and modern built house upon this extern
siye river 1t belongs to the estate of a Mr.. B,
and displays not only the spirit but the taste OF
abe proprietor. From this seat you descend
six miles to Contrelrs Church, and seven cen
more to that OF BOana Cara, both on the oppo-
site side of the river and eighteen miles low
GER you pass the last, which is called Rouge or
Red Church, on the left bank From thence
you have thirty miles more to the city of New
Orleans being about one thousand / wo hun
.sIred & Hfty-seveD miles from the Mississippi
and having passed one hundred and fortJ-nlne
Islands.
A voyage down the Mississippi is very differ
tsnf from one ON the Ohio, where the number
less improvements arrest the attention, and the
pentleness Of tile current affords time 10 dwell
Iipon and admire the Thousand beauties OF that
delightful stream. But on the Mississippi you
are descending through an ifRmenEe unmpFov
ed wilderness, where there is little to attract
notice Besides the rapi]ty Of the stream, OBJ
structed with endless islands, sand bars, snags,