LOUISIANA. 221 



at the bay and fort of Mobile^ which is fifty 

 leagues diltant from the capital. 



The Mobile was formerly the chief fettlement 

 in Louftana^ and the refidence of the governor, 

 ordonnateur^ and of the chief officers. The fu- 

 perior council held its fittings there likewife. 



There is a pretty regular fort, capable of re- 

 fifting a whole army of Indians •, but European 

 troops could foon take it. It is fituated on a 

 bay where the tide comes up ; and between two 

 rivers, one of which is fmall, and is called the 

 river of the Chacfa'ws^ the other is more confi- 

 derable than the Seine before Rouen^ is called 

 Mobile river, and rifes in the Apalachian moun- 

 tains ; it is the rendez-vous of all the Indians 

 who live to the eallward. They come there to 

 receive the prefents which the King annually dis- 

 tributes to them by his governor. The foil 

 about Mobile is gravelly ; however, the cattle 

 fucceeds exceedingly well there, and multiplies 

 very much. The inhabitants are very laborious, 

 and trade with the Spaniards ; they go to the 

 fort of Tenfacola^ which is near Mobile^ and get 

 fait beef, wild fowl, maize, rice, and other eat- 

 ables from thence. The inhabitants of Mobile 

 likewife carry on a trade with tar. As to the 



fur- 



