About twelve or fourteen inches depth of water spread over the land.

A light-house of brick or stone, formerly built on this mud plain, east of the main pass, had partially sunk, and hung in a diagonal line to the horizon, reminding the spectator of the insecurity of all solid structures on such a nascent basis.

The present light-house was of wood.

It was evident, however, that here were deposited millions of acres of the richest alluvion on the globe, and in future times another Holland may be expected to be rescued from the dominions of the ocean.
As we passed out into the gulf, another evidence of the danger of the channel met our view, in the wreck of a stranded vessel.

The vast stain of mud and alluvial filth extended for leagues into the gulf.