Pine Bluff Trinity 14th Octbr 1827.
Mr. James B. Austin
Sir Inclosed you will receive a rough map of that part of the
Province of Texas lying between the Trinity and Sabine, Bound
north by the St Antonio road, and south by the gulf The following
remarks will serve in some measure to explain it.
From the San Antonio crossing of the Atoyac to its June- Course and distance.
tion with Angeline____________________ S 00° —21 Mile
from Nacogdoches to the Junction of Toyac and Angeline____S 44° E—35 m
from said junction to the Junction of the Angeline and
Naches_______________________________S 16° E—26 m
from thence to Sabine lake_______________________._ S 13° E—51m
from thence to the pass in the Gulf___________________S 20° E—16 m
from thence through the pass____________________________S 18° E— 9 m
The width of the creeks are laid down in yards opposite the mouth
of each creek where the width could be ascertained. Their length
and general course could not be correctly ascertained. Their
appearance on the map will perhaps be the best criterion. The width also,
of some of the rivers are laid down in yards at different points
For further information I must refer you to the Map, which is
laid down upon a scale of ten miles to an inch English measure.
The marginal lines will aid you as to the cardinal points
I have not been able to learn anything that could be relied on
relative to the waters of the San Jacinto.
The Sabine, Sabine lake, pass into the gulf and the coast on to
point Bolivar and also Trinity Bay so far as it is laid down,
together with creeks puting in has been laid down according to
instructions recd from Cap1 Orr who has navigated these waters
The Indians Vills have been laid down partly from my own
acquaintance with the geography of the country and partly by
information from Capt Orr, Mr Nash, and a Coshata Indian From
the St Antonio crossing of the Atoyac down the Angeline Naches,
and the Sabine lake has been laid down by my own observation as
I decended these waters last March, but without compass or
mathematical instruments Capt Orr, however, and others who are
acquainted with these waters have agreed with me in the general
course and distances as laid down together with creeks The names
of some of these creeks could not be ascertained consequently they
were left blank I have no doubt but there are other creeks puting
in which I did not discover, as the waters were very high at the
time I came down. The Trinity is laid down from the best
information the inhabitants can give. But no doubts many creeks are
omitted.
I am very sorry that the map which is inclosed is far from being
perfect, The want of correct information from the non inhabited
parts of the country—the lack of mathematical instruments when
I decended the Naches and the little reliance to be put upon the
report of hunters and Indians to whom I have been compelled to
apply renders it impossible for a map to be perfect when founded
upon such vague data. But we must content ourselves with
probabilities when certainties are wanting.
Jn° A Williams [Rubric]