200 APPENDIX TO A MEMOIR 



water into the ocean, yet there has been at least one very ex- 

 traordinary season, when the waters were sunken so uncom- 

 monly low* that there was no sensible current some distance 

 within the mouth of the river. I have lately procured the 

 following curious information from an intelligent *Gentleman 

 of New Orleans who writes as follows, " In the beginning: of 

 " November 1 800, when there was hardly any perceptible cur- 

 "rent in the Mississippi, I set off from the upper gate of the 

 " city, in company with the master of a vessel, and sounded 

 « the river at every three or four boats length until we landed 

 " at the opposite shore : the depth of water increased pretty re- 

 «gularly, viz. 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19 and 20 fathoms, the 

 "greatest depth was found about 120 yards from the shore. 

 << This operation was accurately performed, and as the river ri- 

 « ses about 12 feet at this place, the depth at high water will 

 " be 22 fathoms. A gentleman informed me that his father, 

 "who was chief pilot in the time of the French, has often said 

 " that a little way below the English Turn there was 50 fathoms, 

 *' and about the upper Plaquemine 60 fathoms. A respectable 

 " inhabitant living six leagues below New Orleans, informed 

 " me that during the above mentioned low state of the river, 

 " the water was there found so brackish, that recourse was had 

 " to die wells for drinking water, and that abundance of por- 

 " poises, shark, and other sea fish were seen still higher up the 

 " river. Many people thought the water brackish opposite to 

 " the town. It had a greenish appearance, and when taken 

 " up was very clear; and although I did not think it brackish, 

 " I found it vapid and disagreeable." From the above curi- 

 ous relation it appears, that the waters of one of the greatest 

 rivers on the globe were so completely dissipated that all cur- 

 rent ceased 20 leagues above its mouth, nay the waters of the 

 ocean flowed in (as into the Mediterranean) in order to restore 

 the general level of waters. During the same period at 

 Natchez, 380 miles from the mouth, the river flowed with a 

 regular though very gentle current, (perhaps i- mile per hour) 

 and a depth of 10 or 12 fathoms under the principal filament. 

 What became of this great body of water? evaporation from 



* William E. Hulings Esq. late Vice-Conful at New Orleans. 



