(seq. 237)

233

on as it is principally of an older date than
our aquisition of it The whole coast has
been well known ever since the year 1719
and the many accounts the french have
given of it to be nothing but such a sandy
desart "The land is nothing but a fine sand
"as white and shining as snow" This is the
account they give of the country from the
Missisippi to Mobile of which last an officer
of twenty years experince in the country gives
his oppinion in these words "I never could
"see for what reason this Fort was built or
"what could be the use of it altho it is
120 leagues from New Orleans it must be
"supplied from thence the soil is so bad
"being nothing but sand that it produces
"nothing but pine trees or a little pulse
"which is but indifferent of the kind"

They