The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-09-01

ern shores, then cutting through 1beria,w7here
it forms number OF large lakes and vast es-
tuaries, curling after this on the northern
coast of st. Mary parish and passing through
It's southeastern corner, where it forms per
wick's Bay, and finally empties into the Gulf
of Mexico.
It Is more than likely that the Atchafalaya
was accidentally connected with the Missis-
sipp, and that it was natural channel OF the
Red river until the occurrence OF some great
floods which secured new channel to the
Mississippi for the above overladen river.
The banks of the Atchafalaya are very high,
and Its levees are seldom above two feet III
elevation. The left bank. however, Is ex-
posed to breaks Of the Mississippi in its rear,
while the right bank may be threatened by
Oyertlows from Lake Providence and Black
river In North Louisiana
About twelve miles south Of its origin the
Atchafalaya receives on its right bank, the
BAYOU DIES GLAIZEs,
which runs thence clear up to the highlands
of Avoyeles in northwestern course.
About eighty miles lower south Bayou
Co,1rtableau cuts through the right bank OF
The banks of the Atchafalaya from it's Red
river entrance to the Courtab1eau were for
merly lined with fine plantations, and the
soils fertility was proyerbial; But the negleG'
venturous capital and the social revolution
following the war reduced the Atchafalaya
planters to near starvation, when a majority
of them were compelled to emigrate, aban-
doning their once fertile fields and engaging
In other pursuits Of livelihood abroad;
The banks Of the Bayou des Glalzes, the
first af1luent of the Atchafalaya, are pretty
high and could be efficiently eveed and pro-
tected against any overflow threatening us
banks, or the right bank Of the Atchafalaya.
When this is done. ninety miles OF the richest
alluvial belt that constitute the right bank
Of the Atchafalaya and large extent OF
country. just above the station OF Port
Barre, in q dark, shaded nook OF the bayou, IS
the entrance Of q shallow pool which, as 1t
winds its quiet course towards the south, be-
comes the beautiful and romantic Teche. AS
the streamlet and Port Barre are passed,
the banks of the COurtableu become lower
and subject to overflow, but would, II re-
claimed, constitute q magnificent stretch OF
sugar-producing lands.
BAYOU wAXIA,
| or Ozark Waters" in the Opelousas Indian
! dialect is one OF those innumCrable streams
| that wind their tortuous course from the
CourtabIeau through q long series OF depres'
sions occurring in the main highlands. Ihey
| have no real sources other than the contlnu
Gus flowing of the surplus rain waters to-
wards these depressed paths. This bayou, as
we have just seen, originates at o point or
the left bank of the COurtableau, four miles
below Washington, thence running in al
ever-twisting coil southeasterly for twenty
miles, and there brisSly reascending north
ward to the Big Cane river, i'll Avoyelles par
| ish. where it flows in nearly parallel course
with Bayou BBuf. The waters OF the WaKii
are dark, as its name implies, and the banks
generally rising in gentle fluctuations from
each side. T. A.