The Teche is a small, but a very singular and impor tant stream. In all its length it drains one of the most fertile tracts in the United States. On its upper waters cotton, and towards its mouth sugar and 11101aSSCb, are the staples produced for market.
NCW Iberia is a port of entry, and vessels are fre quently cleared out from that place, but the general com mercial communication is with the city of New Orleans, through the Atchafalaya, Plaquemine, and NIississippi, or by the lakes Palourde and Verret, and the Lafourche and Mississippi rivers.
The Plaquemine is an outlet of the Alississippi, 117 miles above New Orleans. It is only during the seasons of flood that water is discharged into the Plaquemine, which, after a very circuitous course of 15 miles, joins the Atchafalaya. Through the Plaquemine is, however, transported most of the merchandise for the supply of the very flourishing settlements of Attacapas and Ope lousas; and by this route is also sent to market the va luable staples of those places.
Boats from 15 or 20, to 50 or 60 tons, ascend from New Orleans, and entering the Plaquemine, pass into the Atchafalaya. Those destined to the lower part of Atta capas descend the latter river, and enter by the mouth of Teche. Those bound to the central part of Attacapas ascend the Atchafalaya about 20 miles, and thence, by an outlet and lake Chetimaches, procecd to the Fausc Point landing. Here is a portage of 10 or 12 miles to St. NIartinsville, the chief town of Attacapas. Ano ther outlet, and a chain of small lakes and (creeks) enable vessels to be conveyed to the upper part of Attacapas, and the lower part of Opelousas. Vessels destined for the higher and central parts of Opelousas, ascend the Atchafalaya to the mouth of Cout tableau. and thence up the latter river to Lemeli's landing, 6 miles, or into bayou Carron, within 4 miles from St. Landie, seat of justice and chief town of Opelousas.
The Courtahleau is a fine little river, foimed by thc united streams of Crocodile and Bceuf. The two lat ter creeks unite at North Lat. 30° 40'. The general course of the Courtableau is S.E. about '30 miles in
length. It affords, during high water, part of a very eligible channel of communication, betiieen the settle ments of Opelousas. and the lower part of Rapides, with the banks of the. Mississippi.
The navigation of the Atchafalaya is entirely obstructed by rafts of timber, above the mouth of the Courtableau. These extraordinary masses of tiees comnience 26 miles below the efflux of the Atchafalaya from the Mississippi, and extend, by intervals, to within 5 miles of its junction with the Courtableau.
Advancing along the gulf of Mexico, eastward from the mouth of Atchafalaya, the Lafourche is the first in :et of consequence, in a commercial point of view. In the intermediate distance of sixty miles, several small creeks enter the gulf, hut from their very abridgcd length of course are unimportant.
The Lafourche, (the Fork) as its name imports, is an outlet of the 1Mississippi, and the second from the right in descending from the Atchafalaya, the Plaquemine being the first. The outlet of the Lafourche is at North Lat. 30° 6'; West Long. from Washington city, 14° 1'. After leaving the 'Mississippi, the general course of the Lafourche is south-east by south, 90 miles. It enters the gulf of Mexico at North Lat. 28° 57' ; West Long. from Washington city, 13° 30'.
The Lafourche is one of the most important inlets of Louisiana, having 9 feet water on its bar, and admitting vessels drawing 4 or 5 feet to within 30 miles of its ef flux. An arable border of extremely productive soil, skirts both banks of the Lafourche for 60 or 70 miles from the Mississippi. Cotton and sugar ale the princi pal staples. Most of the produce and merchandise of the settlements along its banks, are transported by the route of the AIississippi, to and from New Orleans.
Between the mouth of the Lafourche and that of the 'Mississippi, several inlets admit a boat navigation to New Orleans. The principal of these bays is that of Barataria, by which, and a number of lakes and inter locking streams, a direct communication exists from the gulf of Mexico to the Mississippi at New Orleans.