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which is the only article they have for export, must, as already stated, go to New Orleans to pay for the labour that raises it; while the hides of the immense herds of the buffalos, wild horses, furs, and deer skins," are wholly in the hands of the Indians, be seen by the map.

as may

For the truth of these remarks I pledge myself; and if it should not check the misery I have seen entailed on my countrymen in Texas, for want of the information this work contains,. the blame must be attached to others, and not to these pages.

CHAPTER IX.

Traveller's Guide-Chief Towns on the Coast, and in the Interior -Soundings of the Ports-Tariff-National Colours-Judicial Districts-Table of Roads and Distances-Land Titles-Digest of Laws thereon-Table of Land Fees-Assessed TaxesCommon Law of England, as in force in Texas-Review of her Criminal Laws-Standard of Coins-Monetary Securities.

THE territory of the republic of Texas, extending from the Sabine river on the east to the Rio Grande or Rio del Norte on the west, embraces a sea coast from east to west as follows:

In addition to these points, which appear on every map and chart of the Gulf of Mexico, the following sea-port towns have recently been established on the coast:

City of Sabine, on the west bank of Sabine Pass, contains a population from 100 to 150, and is most unhealthy. Depth of water on the bar from four

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to seven feet. The land on the Sabine is very marshy, and only fit for sugar, rice, and coffee plantations.

City of Galveston.-On Galveston Island, which is nothing more than an inhospitable sand-bank.* It is extremely unhealthy and insalubrious, particularly from the latter end of May to the middle of October. The city contains about 400 wooden houses; population 5000, including West Port. Depth of water on the bar, nine feet at all times, and sometimes fourteen feet, varying with the tide, but more perceptibly with the wind. Anchorage good about four miles inside the bar.†

West Pass, or West Port.-On the western side of Galveston Island; a small town containing thirty houses and 100 inhabitants. Depth of water on the bar, from eleven to sixteen feet; anchorage good, inside the bar.

Valasco. At the mouth of the Brazos River; is very unhealthy; contains about sixty houses and 100 inhabitants. Depth of water on the bar, four to six feet. Two steam-boats run from Galveston to Valasco.

City of Matagorda.--On Matagorda Bay, at the mouth of the Colorado River. The town is situated forty-five miles from the bar; contains about 700 in

"Low and sandy."- Kennedy's Texas.

The pilots of Galveston, and, indeed, all along the coast of Texas, frequently run vessels ashore intentionally; therefore masters of vessels should keep a vigilant eye on them.

habitants, and is most unhealthy. Three other towns have been laid out on the bay, but are not sufficiently advanced for any particular notice. A company has been formed to clear out the raft near the mouth of the Colorado, but they have done nothing as yet. Depth of water on the bar from eight to twelve feet. Anchorage five miles from the town, six to seven feet water. Population about 600.

City of Lamar.-On the east side of Arransas Bay; contains a population of thirty or forty souls; distance, twenty-eight miles from the bar.

Live Oak Point.-On the west side of Arransas Bay; will eventually be a place of considerable importance; and is here recommended to emigrants as the most healthy location ON THE COAST of Texas. The present population is small, but will increase rapidly. Depth of water on the bar, (Arransas Pass,) from ten to seventeen feet.**

The Texans have no ports, as yet, west of Live Oak Point. And under the present system of com

The following remark is worthy of attention, and may be strictly applied to all the rivers with which the coast of Texas is indented. When southerly winds prevail with violence, which they do, they cause a flow of the sea into the lagoons, which increases the waters on the bars, thus enabling ships that draw above a certain depth of water to cross them; while at other seasons, when the wind blows from the north, vessels are almost sure to perish if they attempt it; and I may here add, that there is no coast in the world where the winds and waters vary so capriciously, or where the mariner can place less reliance on the soundings.

merce, established by the Texan government with foreign nations, no attestation of papers in the clearance of vessels, nor passports, are required, although every Texan consul is bound to give passports, and a certificate of intentions and character to any Texan citizen, free of expense. All legal instruments, executed in foreign countries, must be attested by a consul, to be valid in Texas.

The laws relative to debentures and collection of duties in Texas, are precisely the same as those of the United States. Special acts of the Texan Congress, however, take precedence; but there are no special enactments as yet to embarrass merchants or captains in their trade; therefore captains have only to proceed to the ports of Texas, as they would to any port in the United States. All goods must be cleared at the custom-house by the merchant, or his agent. The captains of vessels are required to present a manifest of all emigrants received prior to the clearance at the custom-house, with a memorandum of all the articles they have shipped. Both captains and emigrants should be particularly careful to observe this form.

Emigrants and travellers in Texas are required to make an entry, at the custom-house, of their baggage, &c. before landing it. The entry costs one Texan dollar.

When the duties, under the present revenue laws of Texas, on any one importation, shall amount to 500 dollars, a credit of three or six months is given;