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

4
schsch that Provence mcy furnish IN r
turn for those Of Europe. Of the Con
mevee Of Louisiana NTH the Isles.
4 Ihave often reflected on the happiness q
France in the portion which Providence ha
allotted her in America. She has found i
her lands neither the gold nor the silver I
Mexico and Peru, nor the precious stones an,
rich stuffs Of the East Indies; but she vii
find therein, whep she pleases, mines Of iron
lead, and copper. She IS there possessed 0
fertile soil, which only requires to bo &C
cupied in order to produce not only all tn
fruits necessary and agreeablss Il: lie, but al
so all the subjects on which human industr,
may exercise itself in order to supply GU
wants. What / have already said Of Louia
lana ought to make this very plain; but t
bring the whole together, in order, and un
der one point Of view, I shall next relate ev
cry thing that regards the commerce Of thi,
provence.
Commodities whick Louisiana n,ay furnish
in yetxrn for those of Europe. IA
France might draw from this colony seve
raj sorts Of furs, which would not be without
their value, though held cheap in France
and by their variety, and the use that might
be made of them, would yield satisfaction =
Some persons have dissuaded the traders
from taking any furs from the Indians, on a
lsupposition that they would be moth-eaten
when carried to New Orleans, on account o1
the heat Of the climate: but am acquaint-
ed with people Of the business, who know
how to preserve them from such an accident.
Dry buffalo hides are Of sufficient value to
|encourage the Indians to procure them, -.
pecially il they were told, that only their
|skinsand tallow were wanted !; they would
then kill the old bulls, which are 30 fat as
scarce to be able TO 90 each buffalo would
yield at least hundred pounds Of tallow ;
the value Of which. with the skin, would
make it worth their while to kill them, and
thus mono Of our money would be sent TO
Ireland in order to have tallow from that
country: besides the species Of bufaloes
would not be diminished, because these fat
bufaloes are always the prey of wolves.
er'skins, which were bought Of the In
diana at fint did not please the maEufactu-
cause the Indians altered their quality by
their way Of dressing them bnt since these
skins have been called for without any pre-
paraiion but taking of the hair, they make
more Of them, and sell them CHEAPER than
before. - -
The wax tres produces wax, which being
much drier than bees-wax. may bear mixture
which will not hinder its lasting longer than
bees-wax. Some OF this wax was sent to
Paris BY factor Of Louisiana, who set 50
low price upon it as to discourage the
planters from sowing any more. The sordid
avarice Of this factor has done service to
the Islands, whore it gives niger price than
that Of France. s.ss
The islands also draw timber for building
from Louisiana, which might in time prevent
France from making her profits Of the beau
ty, goodness, and quantity Of wood Of this
provence. The quality Of the timber Is a
great inducement to bnild docks there for
the construction Of ships: the wood might
Be had at low price Of the inhabitants, be-
cause they would get it in winter, which isl
almost an idle time with them. This labor
would also clear the grounds, and SO this
timber might be had almost fof nothing.-|
Masts might be also had in the country, on
account Of the number Of pines which the
coast produces and for the same. reason
pitch and tar would be common. For the
planks Of ships, there is no want Of oak ; but
might not very good ones 6e made Of cy-
press ! This wood is, indeed, softer than
DaE. hut endowed with Qualities surpassinc