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


p. S The above report and the maps attach
ed to 1T contain all that appears to me to be re-
CURED by your instructions, as far as they re-
late to that part OF my duty which it was possi-
bic to- mc ~ execute within the hints of the
time allotted TO me. 1 will, however add a few
remarks, winch seem to me may be useful IN
Obtaining knowledge of that part oftbe terri
ioi, % 81, u. >.
The Chafslaya may be entered by two passes
That 10 the west ward is laid down IN my map /;
the other, to the eastward, called the pass of
Point an Fer, is much more difficult of access,
out leads more immediately to the main branch
OF ne CAaislaya, and is The BEST when the
VIM tavols us navigation it was impossible
Tor me 10 survey tnis pass, or even to lay down
''e Point all Fer 70 give directions tor en-
ISrinB either OF these Pssses, impracticabe,
unirss They were marked by eeacons buoys
cou.d be 0t little rvice for when there is any
BRISK and, The trough of the sea on the fats is
81 deep As L" bury them. 1t must also be gene.
rally iSm rked, tuAt AS the nearest distance nj
winch even otie Isle can be described, about
hVe leas H. :, IL tIc IS no more than fathoms Of
..atSt at ,.e most, and about four leagues at the
mouth of@"C "esl pass ouiy one and a half -.
homs. MY map, therefore, exhibits only
sm%n part o. most extensive, dangerous and
mt Gale Navigation; which can only be render.
Ell less per'ious Oy the erection of beacons which
should ne made OF high masts, painted alter.
nateiy white and black
Tue situation OF Belle Isle, although so COM
mAnding aid 50 Conspicuous, offers no military
pOsItIon of any possible use, but as a means Of
p eserVln8 the health OF the troops in the sicklv
season, IN which respect 1t deserves attention Il
night also be made place of shelter and a DIE
pot OF military and naval stores for the otIIa of
gun BOATS, that would be employed to protect
me coast Inc Cnafaiaya and the Bayou fur
nlsh very convenient and easy means of inland
communication with NeV Orleans. and every
other port on The mississippi, i'm small boats
The INLAND voyage thence to New Orleans NAV
be performed IN four or five days. But a stout
fort at the point at which The the Teche. the
ChafaIaya and the pass TO the great lake. meet.
connected with fortified post at the ayou Fo
arche, would completely command the naviga.
ton fthe Attakapas.
II appears 10 me TO be ofimmense importance
to the interest ofthe u. S. in that part of the
Union, to possess perfect knowledge of the
whole of this Inland communication and IN nh.
tain map of all the numerous entrances to the
Mississippi between the Chafalaya and New Or,
leans The Chatsiaya is the last of the commu.
mcatonS westward as far as nv information
goes. but eastward are many others, all of equal
but no greater difficulty of access and an en-
envy, having sufficient number of small boats
or selzing the pIrogues Of the country. could
reach N Orleans, without notice of their an
proaCh.
mere is portage from the TeChe to Yer
million bay of only four miles. BY this portape
the Spanish conveyed immense Quantities of bull
lion and specie from Vera Cruz and the coast of
Mexico, in small gun boats, running within
the osyter banks, islands and shoals and thus
escaped the posslbIl y o. pursuit OF capture by
an enemy. When once embarked on the Teche
an easy inland navigation conveyed the treasure
to New Orleans. From whence with a fair
wind tTe Havana might be reached in ~ hours
he gun boats draw about five feet water, and
generally mounted two brass nine OF six poun
ders.
The bottom along the whole coast consists of
a soft mud and broken shells. This eeneraIlv
muddy bottom, from little to the eastward of
Point au Fer. IS formed into lnnumerable crook.
ed channels bounded on each side by oyster
banks, and these are the only channels, that give
access to the shore; the lead is the only means
otdscoverlng the mouths ofthese channel, nd
IT not unfrequently happens that after following
ne of these channels for mile or more, Il
closed, and IT is necessary to return and try an
other. From this alone the difficulty of sur
yey OF this coast may be imagined.