58 
Flanders* Behind Horn and Massacre Islands lies a bay, which 
is called Pascagoula, from a river rising in the state of Mississippi, 
and emptying here into the sea. Ship Island is about nine miles 
long, and it was here that the English fleet which transported the 
troops sent on the expedition against New Orleans, remained 
during the months of December and January, 1814-15. At a 
considerable distance from us to the left, were some scattered 
islands, called Les Malheureux. Behind these were the islands 
De la Chandeleur, and still farther La Clef du Francma§on. Af¬ 
terwards we passed a muddy shallow, upon which, luckily, we 
did not stick fast, and arrived in the gulf Lac Borgne, which con¬ 
nects itself with Lake Ponchartrain, lying back of it, by two com¬ 
munications, each above a mile broad; of which one is called Chef 
Menteur, and the other the Rigolets. Both are guarded by forts, 
the first by the fort of Chef Menteur, the other by that of the 
Petites Coquilles, so called because it is built on a foundation of 
muscle shells, and its walls are composed of a cement of the same. 
We took this last direction, and passed the Rigolets in the night, 
with a fair wind. Night had already fallen when we reached 
Lake Borgne. After we had passed the Rigolets, we arrived in 
Lake Ponchartrain, then turned left from the light-house of Fort 
St. John, which protects the entrance of the bayou of the same 
name, leading to New Orleans. 
I awoke on the 21st of January, as we entered the bayou St. 
John. This water is so broad, that we could not see the northern 
shore. We remained at the entrance one hour, to give the sailors 
a short rest, who had worked the whole night, and whose duty 
it was now to tow the vessel to the city, six miles distant. This 
fort, which has lost its importance since the erection of Chef 
Menteur, and Petites Coquilles, is abandoned, and a tavern is now 
building in its place. It lies about five hundred paces distant 
from the sea, but on account of the marshy banks cannot be thence 
attacked without great difficulty. The bank is covered with thick 
beams, to make it hold firm, which covering in this hot and damp 
climate perishes very quickly. The causeway which runs along 
the bayou, is of made earth on a foundation of timber. Behind 
the fort is a public house, called Ponchartrain Hotel, which is 
much frequented by persons from the city during summer. I re¬ 
cognized the darling amusements of the inhabitants, in a pharo 
and roulette table. 
As the passage hence to the city is very tedious in stages, we 
proposed to hire a carriage, but there was none to be found; six 
dollars was asked for a boat; we therefore, decided to go on foot. 
The Colonel, Mr. Huygens, Mr. Egbert, Mr. Chew, and myself 
made up this walking party. The morning was beautiful spring 
weather; we passed through a shocking marshy country, along 
