302 An Hijïorical Jouryial of 



not fulgtjeéltothefame Inconveniences, but which are i^ery clum- 

 fy, and are not managed as we pleafe. I am in one which is made 

 of a Waînut-Tree, fo narrow that it will not bear a Sail ; and 

 my Conduélors accuftomed, to the little Paddles, which they ufe 

 in the Canoes, find it difficult to manage the Oars. Add to this, 

 if the Wind is a little frelh, the Water comes into the Pettiaugre, 

 and this frequently happens at this Seafon of the Year. 



It was the tenth of November, at Sun-fet, that I embarked on 



Why the Leases ^^"^^ f.Jf^'l'''''' ' \ 



fallfofoon.andap^ Leagues to the neverthelefs I was 



^pearfo late on the ^^^^^^^ f ^^^P f ^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^ 

 W ./ Louifia- f,'^' I could make but fix Leagues on 

 the River. 1 he Leaves fall fooner m this 

 Country than in France^ and new ones do not 

 appear till the End of May ; and yet it very feldorn fnows here, 

 and I have already obferved that the Winters here are generally 

 very mild. What then can be the Reafon of this Backwardnefs F 

 I can fee no other than the Thicknefs of the Forells, which hin- 

 ders the Earth from being fo foon warmed, to make the Sap 

 rife. 



The 1 2th, after having gone two Leagues, I left Cape St. Antha* 

 Of the Reeds ^ ^^^^ Hand. It is here that we begin 



" * to fee Canes or Reeds : They are much like 

 thofe which grow in many Places of Europe, but they are higher 

 and Wronger. It is faid that they are never feen but in a good 

 Soil; but the Lands where they grow muft be moift, and of Cbn- 

 fequence fitter for Rice than Wheat. They do not take the Pains 

 to pull them up, when they would clear the Land where they 

 grow ; and indeed it would not be very eafy to do it, their knotty 

 Pvoots being very long, and joined together by a great Number of 

 Filaments, which extend a great Way. Thefe Roots have natu- 

 rally a pretty fine Polifh, and come near to thofe of the Bamboos 

 of Japart; of which they make the fine Canes which the Dutch 

 fell by the Name of Rottangs, 



They content themfelves therefore when they would cultivate 

 W IV * I ^ Field covered with thefe Pvccds, to cut them 



■^otfu'-Zjed ^^^^ ^^'^ ^'"^^ ' ^^^^^ ^^^^^^ 



T Y^.^^ ^ dry, and afterwards burn them; The Afhes 



X^oui iana. ^^^^^ ^^^^ Manure, and the Fire opens 



the Pores of the Earth, which they ftir lightly, and then fow what 

 they pleafe ; Rice, Maiz, Water Melons, in a Word all Sorts of 

 Grain and Pulfe,*except Wheat, which in thefe rich Soils fhoots 

 into Straw and produces no Ears. This Defed might be remedied 

 by throwing Sand on this Soil? and by fowing Maiz on it for 

 fome Years, 



