The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1885-07-04

he Stated further that there were So
man, bends in the bayou, that they
actually caused lin to fall from
grace so far, as to get on a bender
himself one time. A rather tough
yarn !; especially as to the zone
time"
The woods on either side of the
bayou were festooned with vines
that twined their luxur;ant foliage
in every conceivable shape ; in some
places piling up in immense core,
shaped domes !; and in others rising
like solid walls from the waters
edge to the tops of adjacent trees.
These verdant banks Of foliage,
decked with myriads of rain drops
from the recent shower, clustering
and sparkling in the sunlight, pre-
scented o spectacle that was indeed
beautiful. Sometimes when the boat
would brush along under the over
hanging vines, these glisten!ng rain
drops, go attractive to the eye, would
be showered down On the spectators,
land cause them to realize to their
sorrow that "T'is distance lends
enchantment to the view"
AS the boat proceeded, the forest
trees that lined the banks like a
thick wall, became less dense ; and
finally disappeared altogether where
the channel Of the bayou commences
to cut its way through the sea marsh,
Here a fine scene met the view. A
vast expanse Of sea.marsh, clothed
everywhere with tall rank grasses
growing in lnxuriant %profusion, ex
tended in all directions. From the
upper deck of the boat the prospect
was very fine +; the marsh lay spread
out like an immence map +; its surface
being dotted here and there by
lakes ; the t%ortuous channel Of the
bayou, cleaning like a silver band
winding its way through the lagoon
and the shining waters of Vermilior
Bay forming the distant limits Of thu
picture.
The boat soon neared the mouth
OF the bayou F.; and here an object @
interest that presented itself, wa
the jetties {; constructed a few year
since on the plan Of the famous Fad
} %jetties at the mouth Of the Mississippi
River. They consist Of stakes driv
en- along the edge Of the channe
interviewer with brush, extending
Just above the surface Of the water
and they are designed to co%ncentfat
t the current and deepen the channel
But these jetties are a miserabl
fraud. They have been of no pra,
s teal advantage whatever, and hav
not benefited navigation in the leas
s degree. The only object accomplish
ed by them, was the opening up Of
r new channel into Uucle Sans trea
e ury, through which several thousan
dollars flowed into the pockets {
fat contractors.
Shell Island was passed, and ii
0 boat under slow bells, steamed ca,
tiously over the shallow waters ;
s the bar, following the course {
n the channel as marked out by ia
stakes stationed at intervals,
guide vessels along the way. The:
stakes reefed with flags of saw gras
and which are scattered along
n mile or more from the main,lan
present an odd appearance.
e After reaching the deep water
'e the Bay, the Barmore rolled +,
dense volumes of black smoke fro
her chimneys ; Inflated her ire
Re lungs with a full supply OF steam
d and commenced to pillow across Il
e waves at a rapid rate. An honl
e run brought the vessel opposite Re
fish Point, on which is situated Il
Is Abandoned Custom Horse--anoth
d monument Of political patronage.
if built ostensibly for the object of ct