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20 In the month of June I had an opportunity of coasting in a small sloop from Galveston to the Mississippi and from thence to New Orleans. By steamer this voyage is performed from 36 to 40 hours by going in a direct line across the Gulf. We ran along the coast with fine breezes from the Southward to the Sabine & our craft drawing but little water got easly [sic] over the bar then up a side channel into Sabine Lake into which empties the river of the same name. This spot ? is the boundary of Texas & the United States. continuing our cruize now in the waters "Monster [?]]" we successively passed the Calcasieu & Mermantau Lakes, Vermillion Atchafalaya & Timbalier & Barataria Bay, the whole of the coast being low & uninteresting. reference may be made to the last mentioned Bay as being the rendezvous of the Pirate Jean Lafitte previously to 1805--but now the occasional resort only of fishermen. We entered the mighty Mississippi by the S.W. pass, coming to unclear off the villages of Belize, which is a queer looking locality. It is the evidence of the unclear, who make a good thing of their calling. The houses are built of wood and furnished unclear or look out houses to observe the approach of shipping unclear the pilots go out with their well trimmed boats. The place is a perfect 20