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169 I visited the celebrated Burial Grounds of New Orleans, one in the suburbs, & three other contiguous to one another in an older part of the city. None of them are more than two or three acres in size. In each case the enclosure was surrounded with a high wall which was chambered on the inner side for the reception of coffins. The whole peculiarity of these Burial Grounds arises from the fact that the soil being too swampy to admit of internment, the coffin must be placed in some receptacle above the ground. Many of the trade of the city, & several other associations appear to have buildings of their own in the cemeteries, for the unclear reception of the bodies of those who had belonged to the brotherhood. Most of the families too, of the unclear appear to have their own above ground tombs. They are almost unclear of brick, plastered outside, & kept scrupulously clean with white-wash. It was on a Sunday evening that I visited the cemetery in the suburbs. It was very cold on that evening to my sensations, & so I suppose it must felt much colder to people who were accustomed to the climate of New Orleans. Still I saw many persons, sometimes alone, & sometimes in parties sitting or standing by the tombs that contained the remains of those who had been dear to them, & the unclear of whom they still cherished. In some cases I saw one man, & two men or more than two seated at a grave smoking. In some cases these would be a whole family. This I noticed particularly at what was far the best monument in the place. It was one that had been raised...