Page:A Topographical Description of the State of Ohio, Indiana Territory, and Louisiana.djvu/103

95 situation is unhealthy, large accessions to the population are annually made from the United States, and from other parts of the world. It is the principal mart of the western country, where large shipments are made to foreign markets. From its local advantages, it bids fair to become one of our greatest commercial cities.

Opposite to the city, the river is about one mile and a half in breadth, running with a pretty strong current; and yet there is a perceptible rise of the tide; when the water is low it ebbs and flows from a foot to a foot and a half, in perpendicular height. The distance from the city to the sea, at the mouth of the river, is about one hundred and eight miles; and the country low and swampy, containing very little land capable of cultivation. Fifteen miles below the city, and at the head of the English bend, is a settlement, called Saint Bernardo, or Terre aux Bceuf, containing two parishes. The inhabitants are nearly all Spaniards from the Canaries, who improve a narrow strip of land, principally for raising poultry and garden vegetables, for the market at New Orleans. At this place a cantonment was formed, and the late army, under the command of General Wilkinson, was mostly stationed, where a very distressing and mortal sickness prevailed among the troops.

From this settlement to the fort of Plaquemines, forty-eight miles, the land is a morass, almost impassable for man or beast, and always overflowed