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tion, which might be effected with but little trouble and expense.	„
Lake Pontchartrain which connects the mouths of Pearl river, with the Bayou St. John’s and thence with New Orleans, is a beautiful sheet of water, but unfortunately surrounded with marshes, and the landing in many places is attended with difficulty on account of the mud. There are some places towards the east end,
where the beach has a fine appearance, being composed of large bodies of cockle shells, from which all the lime
used at New Orleans, and about the Lflkf*
The water in the Lake is not deep, being generally not more than twelve or fifteen feet.
CHAP. VII.
The author makes a course of astronomical observations —obtains a vessel—some account of the city of New Orleans—ceremony at signing the reports—proof of Mr. Hutchins being at that time a British officer, with some remarks on that subject—leaves New Orleans, and arrives at the guide line on the Mobile river-on observation relative to the Pascagola river.
BEING anxious to examine the geographical position of the city of New Orleans, the large sector, telescope and clock were unpacked, and set up on the 10th and 15th of January, and a number of observations made during my stay, which with the results will be found in the Appendix.
Immediately on my arrival in New Orleans, arrangements were made for procuring the articles we were in want of; but it was found difficult to obtain a vessel properly constructed, to answer our purpose both on
the