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


own use /; they are great hunters, and game be-
ing IN great plenty, they live in great measure
4 by hunting.
| About three leagues above the Wax bayo
the river branches out into different dire ctions
the first that opens to The ives ward, is by some,
called the Teche by others, 1t as considered
| only as branch OF the Chdta!aya INTO witch
the Teche empties itsel4. about three leagues
higher up: the second branch runs more to the
northward, and may be called The north west
branch: the third IS very short bayou, which
communicates between the great lax, Il the ri
! We there IS through ibis alS, water commu-
nication with the Mssss ppl, nd this rs the
route which rs generally followed to 60 4 come
from NeSv-Orleanc, wrh hight canoes or p-
rogucs. surveyed the w.,tern branch about
Or leagues up, that 10, as FAR as where the
Teche emptes itself into A.. The Ceche thence
runs TO the westward, ADD toe branch TO the
north ward, aud by means of canal Joins the
Nssissippi. Il IS Ch, ocst and believe the on
ly way for those ,srge 0arges that carry on the
trade at thls part OF the Auakspas to eo 10 n.
Orleans. The Teche is very narrow BAYOU;
and Its navigation is tedious {; but ~ faith
oms OF water can be carried up at all times as
high as NJ w Iberia but not higher on account
ofthe number of large trees Cor planters as they
are Galled,) which obstIuct the navigation and
render it navigsble only for small PR gues.-
fhe land on this bayou IS very good both
sides ofthe bayou ar lined with trees, almost
all the way up, but behind this kind of hedge.
which IS very narrow, except in few places,
the country presents extensive prairies, adorned
with a number OF small groves, entirely uncou-
nected,& which are called by the inha6itants,isI.
ands Of wood. These pra, rs are never overflow
ed and are excellent land producing every thing
IN great perfection. The planters devote them
selves entirely to the culture of cotton, as the
most profitable for people VINO have but small
number o. slaves /; however some the richest
have do al .ttat
& at Madame St. Mares, few miles above
| New lberi', have S en- as good and as fine SUI
gar as any in The nrighhorhoUu of N. Orleans ::
their riches, however, if they could fin mar
ket, would be their cattle the number they
raise on every plantation is almost incredible 1;
did they know how to cure and salt their beef,
which they NIGH, easily d. n the winter se,srp.
theymight open Very profit dbl branch OF trade
| with the w ladies. New iberia is very ,ri
| fling settlement, and certainly does not de serve
The name oi Town. The Sralar,Is fye,t un,n
th,s spot to build To an, being the head of
he navigation of the Teche The government
expended abo,t S 1870. 900 N that spI; & At
one time COLI ed be- ween IS AID 80 {. miles.
who lived IN hu's they did no remain long T.,
iFether, but dsp rsed and her is not a single
vestige of th~t toNVnt We seen. tn small num-
her OF houses that constitute the present town
| we're built little lower do Rn the BAYOU han
the former IL is impossible for me say any
4
entirely UnacquSinted with the upper country
is about leagues further up the country than
New ihfria, and consists of about 50 houses,
huIi' round the parish church.
| Having carefully surveyed the bayou as far
as New Iberia, on the 18Th of Jan. left that
place, for the mouth nfthe ChGfsilayo, wh-re I
| Intended to begin the survey of the coast ny
running westward towards Bell, isle and w. F.
| million bay we had head winds and bad wea-
ther, and did not get down before the loo
Immediately began my operations, and survey.
I'd part of the coast but to take the soundings
and 20 find the pass through she shoals & oys-
ter INKS, took up long time. The ntrcacy of
the pass 4 extent of the shoals, on which the
least breeze raises such sea that it is mpossi-
I'll" to take bearing from boat or even TO OBJ.
ain correct soundings, is such, that in spite of
all my exertions, found it impossible to go
farther ,hsn the point ChevreiuIs, the cas-
ternmost point of the Vermillion bay, before
the six months, to which was limited expir-
ed.
Relleisle is one OF the most remarkable oh.
Jects OH this coast ii IS not island sccord.
ing to the general sense of the word, but only
an island of gh woodland, in the midst of very
extensive marshes. The approach to the only
landing place on the island is difficult being
through very narrow and crooked bayou, but
with great depth of water. In the vast and uni
form level of marsh and water which fatipues
the eye on this coast, it is truly surprising, to
see an island rise about $50 feet above the mar
shes, covered with the most beautiful trees
They are principally live oaks and green oaks
Some of the former have measured. and found
to be from II to 18 feet diameter about feet a
bove the ground. There are the remains of the
trunk of live oak which has been burnt which
forms circle of 90 feet in diameter. The ISL
and contains between three and four hundred A.
ores of most excellent land. There is at the foot
of the hill on the north side, sulpburious
sprRg about which pure sulphur is found in
large veins, only few inches below the surfac g
of the ground There are at least or clai-
mants to this island, and all pretend to have
grants from the crown of Spain. In the mean
time, one ofthem OF the name Of Watson, has pla
ced tenant on the island but they raise nothing.
Gvingalmost entirely by hunting, the island being
full Of wild hogs, and the marshes and SIN. i
islands about the coast Astounding in deers and
bears.
VIC left Belle Isle on the 18th of Feb, but on
account of bad weather and contrary winds, we
were fout days getting clear Of the shoals on
the 10Th we w.re compelled by bad leather TO
run into the bay Of Bsratsria about 90 leagues 60
the westward ofthe Mssissippi.--The bay Of
BS-dtWia is the best harbor on all the coast
from the Mississippi 10 the Sabine ten feet
water can be carried in, and you may ride nsid.
IN six and seven fathOms, in perfect safety
There IS alsp good communication from this
bay 70 N Orleans, for pirogu or boats, bv 70
ing through several Likes and up the bayou Ba.
ydtdrfd, tll you come to the race If a sa w mill