292 Geographical Collections. 
the Spanish geographers, more than 220 leagues in length, and more than 60 in 
breadth. This province has been united by the Mexican congress to that of Coa- 
hiula, under the name of State of Coahiula y Texas, whose seat of government 
is at Saltillo. Before Louisiana was ceded to the Americans by the first consul 
of the French republic, the Sabine River was not the western limit of the pro- 
vince of Texas. It occurred three leagues and a half west of Natchitoches, upon 
the Red River, near a creek called the Rio Hondo. Upon its borders was a stone 
bearing on one side the arms of France, and on the other those of Spain; and the 
registers of the Capilla de los Adayes, (situated 30 miles west of the Rio Hondo,) 
prove that when Louisiana belonged to the French, a long time before the fami- 
ly treaty of 1763, the bishop of Monte Rey extended his jurisdiction as far as 
that limit. The account of the visit of this prelate to the Adayes, has recently 
been discovered by Mr. Anduze, rector of Natchitoches. When the Americans 
took possession of Louisiana, the troops of the United States established them- 
selves at Natchitoches, and the Spaniards kept a garrison at the Adayes. This 
neighbourhood was disadvantageous to the Spaniards, who received all their pro- 
visions from Natchitoches. The meetings of the soldiers often gave rise to fatal 
quarrels, till the general of the United States, Wilkinson, ordered the Spaniards 
to retire beyond the Sabine; that is to say, 50 miles west of the limit line which 
they claimed. On their refusing to obey, the Americans forced them to com= 
ply. Colonel Herrera, who commanded at Nacogdoches in the province of 
Texas, 70 miles west of the Sabine River, learning what had occurred, hastened 
forward with 200 men, to make the rights of the king of Spain respected. Ge- 
neral Wilkinson marched against him with about 800 soldiers and 300 militia ; 
but an arrangement taking place between these commanders, it was agreed that 
the Spaniards should cross the Sabine,—that the Americans should not go beyond 
the Adayes,—and that the country comprised between the Rio Hondo and the 
Sabine ; that is to say, a line of about 50 miles in width, should be declared neu- 
ter. Some time afterwards, the Americans built a fort upon an eminence be- 
tween the Sabine River and the Red River, 25 miles from one another, and the 
Sabine was declared the limit. 
The country comprised between the Red River and the Sabine is hilly, and 
produces only knotty oak trees, (Black Jack,) and some pines scattered here and 
there. There are nevertheless some good lands on the side of Bayou-Pierre, and 
it is there that the best tobacco of Natchitoches is gathered. On traversing the 
Sabine we enter the province of Texas: the soil is rich without being low, and 
the land, to a distance of 12 miles west, is covered with magnificent pines. Be- 
yond this border of pine trees, is one of the finest and most fertile countries in 
the world. It is diversified by rich hill and dale, and divided into natural mea- 
dows and shrubberies, in so admirable an order, that one would be inclined to re- 
cognize the work of art. The soil is red, friable, and contains a great quantity 
of iron. It is as fertile on the hills as on the plains. The climate is delightful : 
neither too great heat, nor too rigorous cold, is experienced. Water is abun- 
dant, and as good as that of the Mississipi. The country is occupied as far as 
Brassos by 2500 families, who have emigrated from the United States, and who 
- cultivate cotton, maize, tobacco, rice, and sugar cane. Besides these American 
families, there are nearly from 5 to 600 Spanish families congregated around the 
Nacogdoches. They inhabit the Ranchos, where they bring up cattle. The 
principal establishment, beyend the band of pines previously alluded to, is the 
Aix Bayou, entirely inhabited by the Americans. 
There are already in this quarter seven or eight cotton mills, and the products 
are transported to Natchitoches without duty, because the consumption comes 
entirely from that place. The second considerable establishment is upon the 
River Brassos at Dios, nearly 150 miles from Nacogdoches ; the banks of this 
river are sometimes unhealthy on acccunt of its overflow. There is a town 
built by the Americans called San Philipe de Austin, because the grant of this 
land was made to an American, Philip Austin, who promised to establish there 
590 to 600 families. At Nacogdoches another grant was made to a man of the 
