THE HOTEL AT POINTE COUPEE. 377 



the opposite or western bank of the Mississippi ; this 

 office consisted in the management of the hotel formerly- 

 kept by Rutkin, and which he had sold before his de- 

 parture ; the purchaser, however, was weak and in bad 

 health, and had been mostly confined to Ids bed, leaving 

 the hotel to the management of another, who was 

 driving every thing to wreck and ruin. The purchaser's 

 brother seeing that it would never do to leave it in 

 such hands, placed me in the situation on Kean's recom- 

 mendation. Although my j^resent sphere of action was 

 very different from any thing to which I had hitherto 

 been accustomed, I soon gained an insight into the 

 business, and went on very well, as I was perfectly in- 

 dependent, acting on all occasions as I thought best : 

 and I can fairly say that I soon brought things int(J 

 better order. 



Generally speaking, living in Pointe Coupee was 

 much more agreeable than in Bayou Sara, as my prin- 

 cipal dealings were with the opulent planters of the 

 vicinity, amongst whom were some very pleasant 

 people ; there was also an Irish advocate living in the 

 hotel, who had a very extensive practice, and we con- 

 ceived a mutual friendship for each other: I shall 

 always look back with hearty pleasure to my acquaint- 

 ance with Mr. Beattie. 



The little town of the settlement, lying rather higher 

 up the stream on the opposite side to Bayou Sara, con- 

 sists of the town-hall, the jail, the Roman Cathohc 

 church, the priest's house, and the hotel. 



As the land beyond the banks of the Mississippi, 

 particularly in Louisiana, is lower than the river, when 

 the latter is very full the settlers have been obliged to 

 32* 



