25 



The island is nine miles long and one mile wide. The principal 

 natural growth is the live oak and the yaupon in the form of low 

 thickets, A few tree palmettoes are seen here and there near the 

 beach. The live oak is low and stunted and grows only on a few 

 ridges; the rest of the island is destitute of trees of any kind, and 

 the inhabitants get their fuel from the drift wood floated to the Gulf 

 shore. There is a piece of low ground near the beach, where a 

 considerable number of barkless live oak trunks, with their leafless 

 branches, are looming like spectres over the land and sea level, as if 

 attentively listening, with outstretched arms, to the roaring din of 

 the waves, incessantly advancing and receding and dashing the 

 foaming surf against the shore. 



There are a great number of small islands in the vicinity inhabited 

 by fishermen, oystermen and duck hunters, for these waters supply 

 the New Orleans market with the best oysters, fish and crab the sea 

 aftbrds, and also with wild ducks, which resort to the marsh prairies 

 by thousands, feeding on the grain of the marsh grasses. 



This secluded spot is the summer resort of many families and 

 gentlemen of leisure from New Orleans, who avail themselves of the 

 gulf breeze, the sea bathing and the fine table of the host, who fur- 

 nishes the best the sea and land affords. But when the winds are 

 lulled, the musquitoes, like a host of locusts, season with a drop of 

 poison the cup of pleasure. I have collected here a few sea weeds 

 and sea shells which are of some interest as they are the products 

 of Louisiana waters. The specimens of the plants collected are 

 those peculiar to the sea coast, and are found nowhere else. The 

 greatest number of them have fleshy leaves, which is one of the wise 

 provisions of Providence, that enables plants to grow in a dry sandy 

 soil which holds no water, by storing away the materials of nourish- 

 ment in the leaves covered with a thick and impermeable epidermis. 

 The Goat-foot leafed Ipomcea, with thick, bright green, glossy 

 orbicular leaves, and showy crimson flowers, is trailing all over the 

 sand beach near the gulf shore, w r here no other vegetation flourishes. 



Politically considered, the island forms a part of Jefferson parish, 

 and is, it is said, ninety miles from the courthouse. In some 

 respects this island may be looked upon as a primitive paradise of 

 the golden age of society, for no law officer, not even a justice of the 

 peace, resides on its hallowed ground, yet the tax gatherer and 

 publican % finds his way to this lonely sea-encircled spot, and exacts 

 the tribute due to Caesar. 



