320 TRAVELS through 



In 1 7 17, the entrance of the harbour was 

 flopped up by a prodigious quantity of fand, 

 colledled together by a hurricane j the whole ifle 

 was ahnofl overflowed, and great numbers of 

 cattle were drowned •, it was neceflary to feek 

 another port, and they chofe the ifle Surgere^ 

 which has flnce been called Ship IJland ; it has a 

 pretty good harbour. In 1722 M. ^^ Bienville 

 tranfported every one from thence to New Or- 

 leans^ and that place became the capital of Loui- 

 fiana. 



Six leagues from the Ship IJland is the Cats 

 IJle^ fo called on account of the number of wild 

 cats which have been found there. This ifle is 

 only remarkable on account of the murders alnd 

 robberies which have been committed there du- 

 ring the command of two officers, who were fent 

 thither by M. de Kerlerec^ governor of Louijiana* 



In 1757, he appointed the Sieur BurouxcKwS 

 commander of this ifle, and gave him a detach- 

 ment 



I have chofen this piece of Kiftory as an example, which 

 has a particular fimilarity with what is feen every day in our 

 colonies. There are, however, governors and intendants, 

 that mull not be confounded with thofe who have got for- 

 tunes with rapidity, and in an odious manner, from the pu- 

 blic miferies, and from the blood of many unhappy people. 



