Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-10-03


Jolla u. Uatson-iSi6.
40 hhds: sngar, llcO lbs. each, at 1870
dollars, olOO
l3 bales cotton, " CTS l25O
SVJO gals. nIolasses, at 35l cts. 1000
9uU barrels corn, sold at 81 - cts. Ss5
I2225
35 hands $50 dollars g hand, besides proyi-
sion>
/ could name the products of many other
plantations, but l think these will suffice TO
slew the great advantage tins country has o.
yer the other parts OF the United States and
aiter knowing these ,hngs, can You prefer any
other part OF the union? or viii Won prefer tht
rocky lands of the west cr Eoilh, 10 tie hea;,-
utul picturesque meade vs. Of Louisiana. whose
prolihc soil more than amply rcpaNs t,,c labor
ef Tor his tolls, where nature smiles upon
every thing, aud where mdusti, and enterpiize
never tail 10 ensure wealth and comfort :.
very few years. leave these things to YOU,
reflections.
This rs one of the finest countries in the
world for vegetables they grow durip- Tie
whole year; and our gardens are green in
the winter as In the spring. I have seen the
rose IN inii bloom, in all our gardens, in the
month of January.
We have the best frm;t tyees. The orange.
the f1s, the pomes the peach, plumbs of
every description, pears, sc. flourish in the
greatest pertection,a well as all the vine fruits
such as tie grape, melons, &c.
There are many inhabitants here who raise
horned cattle, and the stocks of some are al
most nnnmerable. Many OF our citizens brand
from 500 tn 1000 calves every year. end some
of them 2U00 and 5000 calves. Amongst the
largest stock owners are William Wikoff,, of
opclousas, Joseph SOrrel, Jean Mouton and
his sons, the family of Guidor, of Attakapas.
aud Chreticns Qreresl OF ppelousas The
stocks OF these gentlemen are so numerous,
that they eau form no idea themselves of their
number Ii Is beautiful sight to see these
large herds OF cattle feeding and ranging i'm
the large prairies. In the time of gathering
these cattle, have seer At least IL GOO in one
gang, where the owners had assembled them
i9r the purpose oftaciltatiug this branding, az
i've Jaw requires every man to have particu-
Etr brand which Is recorded. Tie breeds of
these cattle are very fine: they keep fat lis the
prairies, and cost the owners nothing, except
men TO guard them; the largest OF these stocks
mol requiring more than six horsemen in the
time oil gathering, and the half that number at
other times.
Rirers.-The Teche, the Nermillion, Attaka-
pas, ana the Mermentau, in Opelousa., are the
only rivers which How through these countries
The Ncrmillion and Teche take their rise in
opeiousas, and flow entirely through Attaka-
Pas from north In south, when they empty
themselves INTO the sea. These two rivers are
connected by the Bayou Fusilier Both the
Ieche aud NermiilOn are navigable for large
boats and vessels, drawing not more than eight
ieei, IL ali times, for one hundred miles from
their niouth--the Itche particularly so. 1t is
generally slow and sluggish in its course but
al times very rapid from treshes. 1t is never
liable 10 oVerfiowings. like the Mississippi; is
generally very deep, aud high up as tbs
toWn OF ST. MartirSvile, 100 miles from its
mouth, is ten feet deep at all times. Besides
taeSe rivers, are many smaller ones, called bay
ons mere, such as Ne piqne Piaquemine Erue,
Benf, Cortablau, sc. in Opelousas and Caron
Crow, Tortue, SaIlee, Cypremort, Petitance, &c
lii Attakapas; added 10 these, are two large
and beautiful lakes in Attakapas, from which
The finest OF fish are caught. These, and the
water courses communicating with the Mis-
sissppi by the Bayous Plaqucnire and La
Fourche, are the only rivers, Dayous, Sc. worth
mentioning, and form at all times safe * good
conveyance 10 market.
Ioiohs.-The most important town in these
two counties is that ct ST. Martinsville, which
has been lately incorporated. Ii contains a.
bout forty dwelling houses, besides out hou-
ses /; IT has one Roman Catholic Church and
residence tor priest, one court house and
public Jail, one academy, a small market house
Tor meat only, three taverns, three black
smiths shops, two hatters' shops, three tailors'
shops, one sadlers' shop. two boot aud sh0eRia-
makers shops, one joiners' shop, one silver
smiths shop, two bakers shops, one tinners'
shop and ten stores. Its the seat of Justice
for the county of Attakapas. In this town
there resided four attorrcg at law and three
physicians. It's inhabitants are industrious and
eEterprisinG, and amongst them several very
respectable families. Tie inbabitantsare gen
orally decent in their department and friendly
amongst themselves. They are chiefly French
u 10 beautifully situated upon the bank of the
Teche, which is about fifty wards wide opposite
TO II, and about fifteen feet deep. 1t is destn-
ed one day 10 become very respectable in
land town, being i'll the centre Of rich and 20
pHlOus country.
keva Iberia is the port of entry for the dis
trict of Teche, and is beautifully situated up.
on the Teche, in Attakapas, about ten miles
from st. Martinsville.
Franklin, in the Parish ofSt. Mary, in Alta
kapas, has been lately laid of, and will become
place of much business, AS it is not far from
the mouth of the Ieche river, and upon the
right bank of that river. II is in the centre of
that part of Attakapas where the largest sugar
establishments are made. AT present its build
lngS are not numerous, consisting of a public
jail, school house, two taverns, two stores,
two saddlers' shops, and three or four dwelling
houses.
Tie only town in OpelOusas, is what is call
ed" Opelonsas church" u is handsomely ST.
tuated upon the east side al point OF woods
Jutting into the prairie. II began To flourish
before the war, but during its existence, il
went TO decay. Since peace has been establish
Ell, u looks mp again, and there can be no
doubt bat in atew years IL will rapidly increase.
Its buildings are a Roman Catholic Church,
an academy, court house aud public Jail.
There are four tavefus, five stores, one sadlerS
shop, two boot aud shoe mak ers shops, one sill
yer smiths shop, and abont2j dwelling houses,
besides Out-houSes. Ii is built SIX miles from
any navigablc stream, whichis one of the caus-
es why the grow th OF the town has been mped-
ed.
There is another town about being laid off,
ten miles from OpelOnsas church, at the place
where Mf. ty1dTies Smith, rich and respCCta-
bic planter OF OpeIeusas Is erecting an elegant
large Roman Catholic church and an academy,
which he intends as d present 10 the public.
1t IS by acts like these, that an essential aud
lasting service is rendered to the public, and
such men deserve the thanks OF their country,
N al an .la la nf iNnt