The independent. (Harrisonburg, La.) 1853-18??, 1856-10-08


)sides be much more pure than what is com
monty had, the earth not being fouled wit
dunghills; and on the other hand, it woul'
not be dearer than what is now purchased b
France in other places.
/ What commerce might not be made wit
silka The silk-worms might be reare
with much greater success in this countr
than in France, as appear from the trials tina
have been made, and which l have above re
lated.
! The lands Of Louisiana arc very proper 70
the culture Of saffron, and the climate woul.
contribute to. produce it in great abundance
and, what would still be considerable ad
vantage, the Spaniards Of Mexico, who con
sumo great deal Of it, would enhance it
price. &s
have spoken of Hemp, in respect to tn
building Of ships: but such as might be pu
up there, would never be sufficient to emplo,
all the hemp which might be raised in tha
colony, did the inhabitants cultivate as mucl
Of it as they well might. But you will say
why do they nots My answer is, the inhab
itants Of this colony only follow the beater
track they have gotten into: but if they saw
an intelligent person sow hemp without any
great expense or labor, as the soil is very Fl
for it, l say, they saw it thrives without
wedding; that in the winter evenings the
negroes and their children can pee: it; they
then would all make hemp. They think
and act in the same manner as to all the
other articles of culture in this country.
Cotton is also good commodity for COM
merce; and the culture Of it is attended
with no difficulty. The only impediment to
the culture Of it in greater quantity, is the
difficulty Of separating it from the seed
However, if they had mills, which would do
this work with greater dispatch, the profit
would considerably Increase.
The indigo Of Louisiana, according to in
telligent merchants, is as good as that Of the
islands; and has even more Of the copper
color. As it thrives extremely well, and
yields more herb than in the islands, as
much indigo may be made Is there, though
they have four cuttings, and only three in
Louisiana. The climate is warmer in the
islands, and therefore they make four gath
erings; but the soil is drier, and produces
not so much as Louisiana SO that the three
cuttiDgs Of this last are as good ss the four
cuttings in the islands.
The tobacco u slis colony isso szrsafrpt,
that If the commerce thereof was kee, it
would sell for one hundred sol. and six liv-
res to the pound, so fine and delicate is its
juice and flavor. Rice may also form fine
bzsuci, ~ srsaer the East Indies
for the rice We consume ia rrsuea a.A why
should we draw from foreign countries what
we may have Of our own countrymena We
should have it at less trouble, and with moro
security. Besides, as sometimes, perhaps too
often, years Of scarcity happen, we might al
ways depend upon finding rice in Louisiana,
because it is not subject to fail, an advantage
which few provences enjoy.
We may add to this commerce some
drugs, useful in medicine and dying. As to
the first, Louisiana produces Sassafras, Sar-
Esquine, but above all the excel
lent balm Of Copalm, Sweet-gum, the virtues
Of which, if well known, would save the life
Of many person. This colony also furnish
es with bears oil, which is excellent in all
rheumatic pains. For dying, l find only the
wood Ayac, or Sinking Wood, for yellow :;
and the Achetichi for red Of the beauty Of
which colors we shall give an account in the
third book. ~ ~. s.
Such are the commodities which may form
, commerce Of this colony with France,
which last may carry in exchange all sorts
81 European goods and merchandise the
vent whereof is certain, as every thing an
swers there, where luxury reigns equally as
in France. Flour, wines, and strong liquors
sell we'll :; and though have spoken Of the
manner Of growing wheat in this country,
The inhabitants, towards the lower part Of
The river especially, will never grow it, any
more than they will cultivate the vine, be-
cause in these sorts Of work negro will not
earn his master half as much as in cultiva-
ing tobacco; which, however, is less profita-
BE than indigo.
The Commerce Of Louisiana NTH the Islands.
From Louisiana to the Islands they carry
,ypress wood squared for building, of differ
,nt scantlings: sometimes they transport
houses, all framed and marked out, ready to
let up. on landing at their plsce Of destina
ion.
Bricks, which cost fourteen or fifteen liv-
YES tho thousand, delivered on board Of the
hip.
tiles for covering houses and eheds, Of the
ane price.
Apalachean beans, worth ten liyres the bar |
el, Of two hundred weight.
dais, or Indian corn.
Cypress plank Of ten Of twelve feet.