f 



96 



situation is unhealthy, large accessions to the 

 population are annually made from the United 

 States, and from other parts of the world* It is 

 the principal mart of the western country, where 

 large shipments are made to foreign markets. 

 From its local advantages, it bids fair to become 

 one of our greatest commercial cities. 



Opposite to the city, the river is about one 

 mile and a half in breadth, running with a pretty 

 strong current ; and yet there is a perceptible 

 "ise of the tide ; when the water is low it ebbs 

 wd flows from a foot to a foot and a half, in per- 

 pendicular height. The distance from the city to 

 the sea, at the mouth of the river, is about one 

 hundred and eight miles ; and the country low 

 and swampy, containing very little land capable 

 of cultivation. Fifteen miles below the city, and 

 at the head of the English bend, is a settlement, 

 called Saint Bernardo, or Terre aux Bceuf, con- 

 taining two parishes. The inhabitants are nearly 

 all Spaniards from the Canaries, who improve a 

 narrow strip of land, principally for raising poul- 

 try and garden vegetables, for the market at New- 

 Orleans. At this place a cantonment was formed, 

 and the late army, under the command of General 

 Wilkinson, was mostly stationed, where a very 

 distressing and mortal sickness prevailed among 

 the troops. 



From this settlement to the fort of Plaquemines, 

 forty-eight miles, the land is a morass, almost im- 

 passable for man or beast, and always overflowed 



