C 296 ) 



trade between die capital Mobile and Biloxi, and 

 with all the other pofts we poflefs near the fea. 

 The fecond is, that below the city the river makes 

 a very great turning called le detour ' aux Anglois 9 

 or the Engliih reach, which is imagined would be 

 of great advantage to prevent a furprize. Thefe 

 realons are fpecious, but do not appear to me to be 

 folid ; for, in the fir ft place, thofe who reafon in 

 this manner fuppofe, that the river at its entrance 

 can only receive foal I veffels : now in this cafe, 

 what is to be feared from a furprize, provided the 

 city be fortified, as I fuppofe it will foon be ? Wili 

 an enemy come to attack it with fhallops, or with 

 veffels which carry no guns ? Befides, in whatever 

 place the town be fituated, ought not the mouth 

 of the river to be defended by good batteries, and 

 a fort which would at lead give them notice to 

 hold themfelves in readinefs to receive an enemy ? 

 In the fecond place, what neceffity is there for a 

 communication, which can only be carried on by 

 means of dial lops, with pofts which cannot beaflifted 

 in cafe they were attacked,"and from which, on the 

 other hand, but a feeble aftiftance could be drawn, 

 and which, for the moft part, would be good for 

 nothing ? To this it may be added, that when 

 a velTel goes up the Englifh reach, the wind 

 rnuft change every moment, fo that whole weeks 

 may be fpent in advancing feven or eight 

 leagues. 



A little below New Orleans the foil begins to be 

 very (hallow on both fides the MifMippi, and its 

 depth continues to diminifh all the way to the fea. 

 This is a point of land which does not appear to 

 be very ancient ; for if it be ever fo little dug up, 

 water is fure to be found, and the great number 

 of fhoals and fmall iQands, which within thefe 



twenty 



