Evening star., 1901-05-13
OLD MAP OF THE MISSISSIPPI.
southern Part of River as Traced n
century and a Quarter Ago
From the New Orleans Times Democrat,

Ii"H tue New orleans IlmeS-DemOcrat.
Colonel Lewis Guion of this CITY has in
MS possession the tracing of a map of
louisiana made some years previous to the
time when that vast territory became
United states property. The tracing and
accompanying comments We're made by
Major Isaac Guion of the United States
army, VINO was the grandfather of Colonel
1uion- The title of this interesting and
valuable relic reads: The course of the
Mississippi from Batiste to Fort Chartres
esreeably to the American Atlas published
at London. England Ills. as taken q, an
expedition TO the Illinois in 17G5 nv I,ien-
tenant Ross of the 34th Regiment. and i'm
proved by the surveys made of the rver
oy the French. Scale 6912 English miles to
GeueEa} uesi1' io for ms excelency. Brgadier
IN 1871 Louisiana was Spanish territory
France not having obtained possession mn,
III lSoo, and three years later it was ceded
by treaty to the United States The NAV
from which the copy referred to bara nae
taken was made by Daniel Symnes a we'll
known engineer of that time who had
mace elaborate surveys of all the country
along the Mississippi river from Memnbis
to the gulf on both sides of that stream
Major Isaac Guion, to whom the present
Iainlly OF that name is indebted for the
copy OF SNmmes' map of Louisiana was a
native of Westchester n Y who had eean
service in the continental army and u4bn
had the reputation of being q thoroupblv
trained and efficient officer His conv of
the Symmes map is about three feet long
ana traced on an excellent quality of linen
paper. 1t is age-worn, moth-eaten and
barely holds together. About 900 miles of
the map are missing. but from Yazoo river
10 lne guIf 1t is practically complete The
section of country contiguous to New or
leans shows up remarkably we'll and from
II an excellent idea may be formed of the
ueVeiopment OF that section during this
early period.
The map possesses MANY Interesting faa-
lures. among which might be mentioned the
ancient specimens of orthography which
prevailed and the peculiarity of the names
OF rivers, forts and villages as compared
with those by which they are known to-
day. Many features of the map are ex-
plalhed by notes, the exclusive work of
MAJOR Gulon. AS an instance of the &C.
centricltles of spelling the following might
prove OF interest: 1azoo appears "Yazous
for Ala bama "AIibomous" and Tcnsas was
spelled "Tainsas." Grand Gulf was known
as Great Gulf-a treacherous whirlpool"
Nhat is known now as Bayou Goula was
originally written "Baya Goulas." which
was the name of a famous Indian chief,
and not bayou" as is now generally sup
posed The Ohio river was Familiarity
known in those days as Fair River"
Among the names now unknown to the
student OF the modern map of the Missis-
sippi are Little Gulf" Bishops Island, /"
both of which We're above Natchez; Point
IuN E-.tii ttS' dDoNc Nfdnd Gull; Apple
Island, above Natchez: Ancient Village
Of the Troux," just below Natchez; Rocks
of Dansion," or Lotus Heights" now
Fort ADAMS; Portage of the Cross a
short distance below Fort Adams; Milk
GIFTS. known as Pointe COupee; "Guions
Pass leading out to the coast of Lake
Pontchartrain; The Bay of Spiritu Santo,"
southeast Of New Orleans.
The map gives the names of the follow
ms rivers: Big Black, BED. Mississippi
Chetimach Pearl. kcfonctea. Anamand
False River, lbervlle, AMT and Ciapp
rivers.
The following forts are shown on the
map: French Fort. a short distance below
Portage Of the Cross. abandoned; Fort St
Leon, nineteen guns; Fort st. Mary's
t%enty-one guns. below New Orleans on
the Mississippi Batiste Fort, at the mouth
OF the Mississippi river, in all probability
Fort jackson.
The following settlements, etc. which
have since grown into successful cities and
towns, the map shows: Grand GuiI Vii
lage of the Tunicas, Jones Village, Raton
Rouge and New Orleans.