INTRODUCTION                                  11
Guadalupe, is partly formed by the island of
Matagorda, which is ninety-six miles long and
only ten wide. The bay of Galveston, into
which flow the San Jacinto and the Trinity
River, extends about thirty-five miles inland
from the Gulf of Mexico in a direction nearly
north. Ships drawing twelve feet of water
can find easy anchorage in it The coast-line
is rounded off by the bay of the Sabine, so
closed that it is almost like a huge lake, into
which flows the river of that name.
The island of Galveston, formerly San Luis,
which extends across the entrance of this bay,
is nothing but a sand-bank accumulated by the
strong tides. It is forty miles long and foui
wide, and rises only twelve yards above the
level of the sea. Its surface is covered with tall,
rank grass, a few mimosas and cactuses, and
some marine plants. On this sand-bank the new
city of Galveston has lately been built ; it is
an Episcopal See, and the most important
seaport town in the State.
The climate of Texas is delightful. The
region of the plains is the hottest ; the temper-
ature is about the same as in Louisiana, but
infinitely healthier.    The sea-breezes cool the