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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 anchor off the village of Belize, which is a queer looking locality. It is the residence of the Mississippi pilots, who make a good thing of their calling. The houses are built of wood, well furnished, & there are ? or look out houses to observe the approach of shipping to which the pilots go out with their well trimmed boats. The place is a perfect 

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