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the point where the Atchafalaya receives the Bayou Plaquemine, it takes a southern course to Grand lake, and through this lake into Atchafalaya bay. Its width varies from 75 to 200 yards; its depth near the Mississippi is eighteen feet in low, and thirty-three in high water, the depth of Grand lake through which it passes forty feet, and that of the bay into which it falls fifty feet. But the bar at the mouth of this bay has but nine feet water. Its current is rapid, and in the first fifty miles of its course it overflows its banks during the swell of the Mississippi, six miles in breadth, and six feet in depth. About twenty-seven miles from its source or efflux, there is a large collection of tim ber, extending across the river from one bank to ano. ther, and covering the surface of the water for a distance of twenty miles, with some interruptions. This immense raft rises and falls with the waters, always pre-. serving the same elevation above their surface, except in the time of inundation, when boats pass over it. The Atchafalaya receives the waters of the Courtableau and Plaquemines. The Courtableau, or western branch, is formed of two streams, the Bayou Bœuf and Bayou Crocodile, or Thompson's creek, whose branches extend in a north-western direction towards Red river. The Bayou Boeuf communicates by several channels with Red river, and is partly fed by its The Bayou Crocodile, at the 31st degree of latitude, passes through a lake of the same name; and their waters united join those of the Atchafalaya, fiftythree miles from its efflux. The depth of high water in these streams is from eighteen to twenty feet, and

waters.

even greater in some places. During the spring floods the waters of the Mississippi extend their influence to the junction of the two great branches; and there being no current towards the Opelousas, the banks, from the Bayou Derbane to its mouth, are annually overflowed to the distance of eight miles during several months. Near its efflux the Atchafalaya receives the Bayou de Glaise, which has a communication with some of the branches of Red river. The Bayou Fusillier issues from the Courtableau, and terminates in the Atchafalaya. It is sixty or seventy feet wide. The Plaquemines (seven miles in length) receives the surplus waters of the Mississippi, which it discharges into the Atchafalaya. It is seventy yards wide, and navigable for boats. In autumn the tide reaches two miles up this channel, which is more than 200 miles above the mouth of the Mississippi. The Grosse Tete, a large bayou, runs from the southern parts of False river, (Fausse rivierè,) to the Plaquemines, a course of thirty miles. This False river is an ancient channel of the Mississippi, and is a sort of lake of an elliptical form, nearly thirty miles in length. The Bayou Teche joins the Atchafalaya on the west side near Grand lake, after a winding course of more than 100 miles; vessels from sixty to eighty tons ascend from the sea to New Iberia, and its channel, which is never overflowed, affords an easy communication with some of the settlements in the Atakapas country.

So called from the persimon trees which formerly covered its borders.

Bayou Bœuf, from the east, enters the Atchafalaya near its southern extremity. To the south of this bayou, and west of Lafourche, a number of small streams run in nearly a southern direction to the Gulf of Mexico. Between the Atchafalaya and the Teche is the Chetimaches, or Grand lake, the waters of which have a communication with both; and to the south of the Teche rise several streams which run into the Gulf of Mexico, viz. the Bayous Myrtle, Salé, Carline, and Cypress-morts. Vermillion river rises in the flat country of Opelousas, which it traverses for the space of fifteen or twenty miles; and after a course of 100 miles through the country of Atakapas, discharges its waters into the Gulf of Mexico, through the west end of Vermillion bay. Its current is slow, and its depth is from three to six feet. The Bayou Queue Tortue, which separates Opelousas from Atakapas, rises in 30° 15′ of north latitude, runs nearly a south-west course of thirty-five miles through Little lake into Mermenteau lake. At its efflux from this last lake, the river takes the name of Mermenteau, and follows a south-western course to the Gulf of Mexico. At the outlet there is but four feet water, and in the lake but three. The Bayous Nez Piqué, Mallet, and Plaquemines Brules, three considerable streams intersecting the country in every direction, join the Queue Tortue before it enters Little lake, and afford a good navigation, their channels being deep, and receiving the tide above the commencement of the Prairie Mamou. The Calcasu, which is the first river eastward of the Sabine, rises from different sources

near Red river; and in its course to the Gulf of Mexico, passes through an extensive lake from which it derives its name. Many small streams which run into Red river, Calcasu, and Sabine, derive their waters from the rains of winter, and become dry in summer. In the extensive meadows of Opelousas aud Atakapas well water is seldom procured at a less depth than from thirty to forty feet.

Bays and Lakes.-Lake Borgne is a bay of the sea opposite the mouth of Pearl river, inclosing the islands named Malheureux, St Joseph, Marianne, and Cat Island. This lake receives the waters of Pearl river and of Lake Ponchartrain, and has from nine to twelve feet water. Its westermost point approaches within four or five miles of the Mississippi, about ten miles below New Orleans, and it forms a communication with the river through a bayou and canal, called Vilere's canal. It was through this channel the British passed to the banks of the river, in the winter of 1814. Lake Ponchartrain, thirty-five miles in length, twenty-five in breadth, and from ten to eighteen feet in depth, lies to the north of New Orleans, and has a communication with the city, by the canal Carondelet, and the Bayou St John. This communication has from three to nine feet water. Lake Maurepas, twelve miles in length, and eight in breadth, is situated to the west of Lake Ponchartrain, with which it has a communication, by the pass of Manchac, of six feet water. The waters of the river Amite and Tickfah pass through it. Lake Quacha, twenty-two miles in length, and six in breadth, is situated twelve miles

from New Orleans, on the western side of the Mississippi, with which it has a communication. Barataria Lake, or Bay, on the west side of the Mississippi, has a passage into the gulf of nine feet water. By the Bayou St Denis, on the north-west side, and the pass d Mendiant on the south-west, it forms a communication with several lakes lying between the rivers Lafourche and Mississippi, namely, Lake des Allemands, Quaha lake, Petit lake, Lake Rond, and Lake des Islets. At the mouth of Barataria lake is an island, in latitude 29°, affording a strong military position, which, in 1811, was taken possession of and fortified by pirates, under the command of Lafitte. The harbour is large enough for light ships of war. Atchafalaya Bay, which opens into the Gulf of Mexico, has fifty feet water; but near its entrance, on the bar, there is but nine feet. This bay has a communication with Lake Chetimaches. On the north-eastern side it communicates with Lafourche through two small lakes, Pallourde and Verret. Còte Blanche bay, separated from the former by Point Chevreuil, receives several streams from the borders of the Teche, and has twelve feet water. Vermillion Bay receives several streams from the north, and has twelve feet water. In the passes through the chain of islands stretching across the mouth of the two last bays, there are from five to six feet water. Lake Mermenteau, whose waters are discharged into the gulf through the river of the same name, is of considerable extent, and has three feet water. Calcasu Lake, which receives the river of the same name, has three feet water, extends from north

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