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LETTER XXXII. 



Voyage from New Orleans to the Mouth of the 

 Miffiffippi. Defcription of that River to the 

 Sea* Reflexions on the Grants. 



IJland of Tbcutoufe or Balife, January 26, 1722. 

 Madam$ 



TH E country, in the neighbourhood of 

 New Orleans, has nothing very remark- 

 able ; nor have I found the fituation of this city 

 fo very advantageous, as it has been faid to be : 

 there are forne who think otherwife, and fupport 

 their opinion by the following reafons and I mail 

 afterwards lay before you thofe which induce me 

 to differ from them. The flrft is, that a league be- 

 yond it, towards the north- eaft, there is a fmall ri- 

 ver called le Bayouc de Saint Jean> or the Creek of 

 St. John, Bayouc in the Indian language fignify- 

 ihg a rivulet, which, at the end of two leagues* 

 dilcharges itfelf into the lake Pontchartrain, which 

 has a communication with the fea, by means 

 of which it would be eafy, fay they> to keep uo a 

 V01..II. U trade 



