American Expedition to the South. 149 



AMERICAN EXPEDITION TO THE SOUTH. 



The expedition under General William Walker and Co- 

 lonel Joshua Child has terminated happily as regards the safety 

 of the company, having landed on the rived Brassos without 

 the loss of a man. — On the route, considerable time was spent 

 in exploring the coast from the Bay of Atchafalia to the mouth 

 of the Brassos. They passed through Plaquemine into Ber- 

 wick's and Atchafalia Bays, through Vermilion Bay, touch- 

 uig at the Quelquechu and Sabine, and entered the Bay of 

 St. Bernard, near the east end of Culebra (or Snake Island), 

 which lies in front of, and covers the bay. Tliey then pro- 

 ceeded westward by the mouth of the Trinity, Santa Jacintha 

 (or St. Hyacinth), Cedar, Chocolate, and several other rivers, 

 all of which will afford considerable settlements. After ascer- 

 taining that the Brassos did not empty into the Bay of Saint 

 Bernard, as is represented by most maps, they passed into 

 the Gulf through the south-west pass, at the south-west end 

 of the aforementioned island, and found the Brassos made 

 into the Gulf at right angles, without any bay of consequence. 

 The water on the bar was found at very low tide to consider- 

 ably exceed seven feet, and may be calculated generally from 

 nine to twelve. On the outside of the bar the depth of water 

 is very considerable, sufficient to float vessels of any size. The 

 tide continues for forty miles up, fifty or more feet above low 

 water. The company ascended the river 1 70 miles, 1 00 of which 

 they were accompanied by a sloop containing families ; which 

 families still continue with the company, all of whom have lo- 

 cated themselves on the i-iver banks, and are severally engaged 

 in cultivating gardens, raising corn, &c. 



One Imndred miles up the river there is a settlement of 

 30 or 40 persons, most of whom were intended as Mr. Austin's 

 settlers. Sixty miles by water, and thirty by land, above the 

 settlement formed by Messrs. W. and C. there is a considerr 

 able munber of families, many of whom are wealthy and re- 

 spectiible gentlemen from Louisiana, and other slates, who 

 have (juitted some of the bestplantuig establishments, and have 

 taken upon themselves to encounter the difficulties and priva- 

 tions incident to settling new and frontier countries. The val- 

 ley of the Brassos, or rather the timber laiul near the coast, 

 (for but little diflerence exists as to the height of the country 

 on the river, and that whicli is in the rear, and constitutes the 

 prairie,) is in general from tlu-oc to twelve or more miles in 

 width, and covered with that descriplion ol" timber common 

 in rich lands: viz. ash, walnin, clieiiy, hickory, and lynn, 8cc. 

 ""ee from inundation, tliongli ii\n\\ llie several strala it is cer- 

 tainly 



