The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-03-13
Morning Star and Catholic Messenger.
LETTER FROM PELICAN.
ORLEANS. SUNDAY. MARCH Is, ie7o.


BREAux's BRIDGE, ;
Parish of st. Martin, March a, 1871.
Editors Morning Star and Catholic Messenger:
NV last letter was written from the upper
AtcHafalnya river, and, although more time mas
elapsed than was intended, will resume my
narrative Of the general appearance ana conu,
The upper portion of the Atchafalaya, as before
stated, is devoted to farming, but, owing 10
the havoc made by the late war ana the nc q
being done there The lower portion OF inc
river is but thinly settled, and as the land 10
low. cannot be devoted to d farming pSsyised
However those who live in this section now
do better getting out timber and lumber than
they could at farming Ihere are no hne, G
on the Atchafaiaya river aud the lakes and
bayous on either side, and with public high
way through this section at any central polht,
snch as ;s contemplated in the Chattanooga
Railroad route which would bring it in direct
communication with the fine prairie country
lying westward of the Bayou leche' Will """
After descending the Atchafalaya some hun
bred and fifty miles, mostly in southern diree
ton the stream turns more to the eastward,
and is known as Grand rivera name IL htly
bears, it being in many places wide anu
beautiful sheet of water. Inc steainoo. .I r'
however is more to the southwark, through
some of the bayous, of which there are many,
that lead directly into "the lakes" we entered
Bayou In Rampe, and were soon m na az ohomt
seven Nv Eve miles in extent, but now consider
ably filled up with drift and deposit from .nS
Atchafalsya, and growing up in WILLOW Dars
We were soon out of this lake into Bayou
Chene, a deep, gool-sized stream, where i've.
oaks abound at every turn anu Wni la Gh;cat
us, after few miles travel, into Lake Chlcoe, :
circular-fOrmed basin, now nearly hlieu VI
with drift and deposit coming into IL tnrons
different bayous from the Atcnaia, 1'ssm that
also from the Bayou Plaquemine' wheh c .na'
mischievous little stream was open: Solis
seven miles travel brought us to Chlcot fass, ass,
deep narrow channel through narrow hecf
of land which divides Lake Chicot from Crane
Lake, or, as it it is also Called Lake Cheti
macha from the tribe of Indians that once IN
habited its shores, and u few OF whoni y1U i ~.
upon it's banks at what is termed lhaial
Rend y opposite the little town of Charenton
on the Teche. .. ..,,
Grand Lake is a fine sheet of water, sem
ttirty-odd miles long and about twelve We, !,
width. surrounded on oil sides by thick, heav
woods principally cypress, with scarcely IN!
,pon it's low, black-looking banks, except
the neighborhood of the she'll banks along II
southern shore, above ;u anu NAV ne hs seen som.
times occupied by the Indians from tue 'behe
and sometimes vacant -
Renchiur the lower end of Grand Lake, "
enter a good-sized, we'll detIned stream wn.e
il called the Atchataiaya, although 1T cann'
be termed u con 5inuation OF the river WINS
turns away to the eastward from bayoh !
Rampe: while others distin Sulsh 1t ny I!
name of the bay" through winch an hohi
good travel would take us to Brashear CITY,
Berwck's Bay, tho present western terihh
of Morgan's Texas Railroad; but us we go
the beautiful "Teche country" we turn 10 u
ripht and enter tho mouth OF Bayou lcche
tolerably wide and very pretty stream, conn
from the westward through II section Oh co"
try once, not without reason, termed the q
den spot" of Louisiana, ana AN account
which L will try to give you when nave ih'
time at my disposal than l have at present
PELICAN