New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-02-20

ton OF 1864" gs sg4E --.p lATTAKAPAs.
Il
4 Il IA The Environs of New Orleans. ~
i tsz+t .aas NUMBER TWENTY oNE.
In one of our former numbers we incidentally
mentioned that in some of our penetrating excur
sons through the swamp forests and praries in thu
vicinity OF our city, we more than once happened
to lind ourselves in most perious positions. Some
readers may have smiled at this mention of appre
hended danger, and have placed it to account
of some fanciful imagination but whoever is more
infinitely acquainted with the peculiar condition Of
our soil, will not have found our account at all
exaggerated. We shall therefore, enter into some
nearer details of this especial condition of the
former surroundings of our city, before, more par
tcularly, the system Of draining canals had ope
rated the present metamorphosis Of the surface OF
our soil. In those times it was no uncommon
occurrence for hunters to lose themselves in the
unfathomable morasses of the swamps, and the
yielding bottom of the trembling prairie, SO that
| it was the common custom to throw across the
earth ones hunting gun or rifle the moment thai
the foothold was giving way under ones tread.
| This arises from the nature of the alluval soil
The bottom upon which the surface of our cypress
forests, as well as our lake prairie, reposes
| is actually not solid one, well proved by the
shaking, the heaving and swelling sort of mo
ton to be met therein. Nay, the boring of an ar
tesian well in Canal street, which was carried on
for some hundred feet of depth, has sufficiently
| demonstrated that before coming to the solid blue
clay strata, which forms the actual ground or sub
soil Of the Mexican Gulf coast, several layers OF
sand, loan and driftwood compose the upper
strata of the alluvial soil, and that among these
quicksand-banks are found in abundance, which
sustain, as it were the moving, trembling prairies
In the winter season numbers of cattle, horses
and mules, which are left out in the forests perish
by stalling-that is to say, they get into such
dangerous morass places that they cannot extri.
cate themselves from their positions.
/ Then again we have often traversed the swamp
regions in the midst of the dry summer season,
when the heat of the suA would actually cleaye
the ground, and produce enormous assures OF
breaches, in which both man and beast might
sink without resurrection, to an unfathomed
depth. Nay, there are stories that horsemen
have disappeared in some localities, as if the
earth had opened up under the belly of their
horses and swallowed them entire as by enchant-
ment. Hence, let not the unacquainted reader
imagine that there was, and even at this present
day is, no hazard in visiting the recesses of
cypress forests and quaking prairie localities.
Having thus explained the nature of the danger
of the soil, which former explorers of the sur
rounding wilds of our city had to guard against
we shall now proceed to Indicate one or two par
ticular localities, at present altogether reclaimed
from their former condition. When entering the
GENTLY road, a little beyond where now it is
crossed by the Broad street canal, leaving the
ir,la
began-that is to say, with the exception of few
patches of high ground, cultivated as gardens, a
tangled forest commenced, running along both
sides Of the low or stagnant Bayou Savage.
Here, and more particularly towards the old
Marigny canal, which enptied its waters into a
swamp that communicated with the Bayou st.
john was the real field of exploration for those in
search of specimens Of natural curosities. For,
in reality, that quarter was actually alive with all
sorts of stirring creatures from the innocent little
snailto the dangerous rattle snake and alligator
To venture into that region, one was not every
day disposed, and yet there would be found the
most fascinating reptiles that you could behold.
Such gorgeousness of colors, such hues of all the
shades of the rainbow upon the subtitle
bodies of these shining creatures, it is impos-
sible to describe and what is more to enjoy these
living pictures of natures production, is worth
muchmore than the mere beholding of the inanimtae
dead covering of their beings in a museum or col.
lection. Then you would see the movements, the
passions displayed, the fire of those wonderful
creatures when pursuing or watching their prey.
Nay, there was pleasure, mingled with fear,
when penetrating their hidden recesses, where,
however, strange plants rare specimens of natures
production, would reeompense the hardy explo-
rer's audacity. This locality at the present time,
no longer offers these allurements; the soil has
been traversed by numerous draining canals; and
at present, fields yielding rich harvests under the
husbandman's culture, have replaced the former
abode ofnature's wild creation.
There is another locality, some where near
the plain raquettes or the Indian ball plays, behind
the old faubourg Marigny, which for a number Of
years resisted all the efforts, as it were, of re-
claiming, by dnt of draining canals Into that
almost impenetrable quarter we had tried often
to advance to some favorite aquatic plants, some
uncommon specimens of bullrushes, when at last
we succeeded in obtaining the coveted prize,
through an almost unfathomable morass. At the
present day splendid farm house occupies the
site; still do the numerous cypress stumps, even
in the midst of the gardens, bear witness TO the
obstinacy Of the ground to yield their pristine
nature to the invading force of modern civilization.
such were the hardships connected with the |
Exploring jaunts, much more fatiguing than the |
mere fishing or hunting expeditions, of which itmay
lot be amiss to make now some mention As to
he first, that Of fishing or angling, the Bayou ST.
Ohm, in these times, Afforded plentiful supply Of |
,atsersaws, crabs, crayiishes. and other members
# the finny and crustaceous tribes. at present |
hese have become much scarcer or rarer, be- |
aase the waters of the swamps or canals are so
mach dateriorated that the fishes have nearly all
cit Tor the more healthier waves of the lake
water aud shores. As for the fishing in the lake
" seine or angling, this was generally carried on
y amateurs insome hired fishing boat, on Sun,
lays or other occasion of business vacation Upon
nus toPio we must also make mention of the grend
aAe eScursion parties on St. John the Baptist,s
nay, me 24tho June, in summer, when nearly
III inc town would go to the waters of the lake
u Inc entrance Of the bayou near the old fort
low converted 'Aso q priyate residence or hotel t
md take to swimming and betting at that ioyons
eason of the year,