Indian corn or maize is bought here of the farmer at about a quarter dollar the bushel, soon {94} after harvest; in spring it is sent down the river to New Orleans under a freight of another quarter dollar per bushel; and is sold there from seventy-five cents (three shillings and sixpence) to a dollar. Wheat is bought at a price about sixpence or sevenpence the bushel dearer than maize, and sells proportionally higher. For a return lading, Salt is bought at half a dollar per bushel, and sells at Vincennes from two $ to two and a quarter $ ditto. Loaf sugar sells at half a dollar, (2s. 3d.) per lb. Brown sugar sells at 37-1/2 cents, (1s. 8d.) per lb. Coffee at 75 cents, (3s. 6d.) per lb. Tea at from 2-1/2 $ to 3-1/2 $ per lb. and other groceries, many of which like the above are bought for considerably less than half their selling price, in proportion: of iron and drugs I could not obtain the price at New Orleans; but of the profit on the iron the reader may judge by the price I paid to a blacksmith for eight new horse-shoes, steel toes, and eight removes; the bill for which was about ten dollars,--above two guineas! I remonstrated and appealed in vain, the bill was paid; yet I cannot think that such a price is charged to the inhabitants among themselves; but there is no justice and little law but one's own arm; and {95} a man must be fain to yield before a nest of ---- who join in plucking a stranger; indeed, he may think himself well off if they are contented with a little plucking at his purse, for instances are not unfrequent of individuals among them being "rifled" for having rendered themselves obnoxious; which they do equally if they are too good (_honest_) or too bad (_deep_) for them; or not holding themselves sufficiently upon a level.