Carte de la Louisiane et du Cours du Mississippi

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IdentifierMaps_108aDate1718DescriptionThis is the fourth state of the five identified by Tolley, who cites the work as "the first detailed map of the Gulf region and the Mississippi" (French Mapping of the Americas, no. 46).

Texas is named for the first time ("Mission de los Teijas etablie en 1716") and includes a wealth of human detail (missions, settlements, Native American villages, mines). Other features inlcude Natchitoches (France's most westerly permanent outpost, established 1717), Adaie (Adaes), Ainais, Les Cenis, and Naouadiches (Nacogdoches). The routes of La Salle, De Soto, and St. Denis appear, and De L'Isle shows La Salle's fort ("Fort Francois") on Matagorda Bay and identifies the site of his death on a tributary of the Trinity. De L'Isle drew many of his details from the manuscript of Le Maire (1716) and Vermale (1717) (see introduction to Cartographic Sources in the Rosenberg Library, note 55).

Eleven rivers enter the Gulf of Mexico between Nachitoches and the Rio Grande (east to west). First aer "Petite R. de la Madelene," "R. de Flores," "R. de Se. Susanne," "Bocachica," and "R. de la Trinite." The last-named river is of course the present-day Trinity, which flows into Galveston Bay. De L'Isle shows a very small bay, really no more than a widening of the river's mouth. On the east bank of this inlet is a site labeled "Judosa." (The Vermale manuscript shows the inlet, but it applies the name "Judosa" to a stream just east of the Trinity that De L'Isle has omitted). This small inlet is the first definitely identifiable bay at the site of Galveston Bay. Next is a "la Dure R." followed by "la Maline R." (the modern-day Brazos), "la Sablonniere R.," "R. aux Cannes" (the Colorado), "Rio Guadalupe ou de la Madelaine," and "Rio Hondo."

For more information on this foundation map, see Fite and Freeman, no. 46; Lowery, no. 288; Karpinski, p. 133; Cumming, Southeast, no. 170; Thomassy, p. 211; Streeter Sale, vol. 1 no. 113; Wheat, Transmississippi West, no. 99. Language NoteFrenchSubjectMississippi River--MapsNorth America--MapsCopyright StatementNo Copyright – Non-Commercial Use OnlySize48x65 centimeters.CartographerGuillaume de L'Isle

CollectionRosenberg Library map collection

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Carte de la Louisiane et du Cours du Mississippi

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Carte de la Louisiane et du Cours du Mississippi