The Indian Wars, 1784-1787 201 



by profession, but this was not necessary, for on the 

 frontier men shifted from one business to another 

 very readily. A farmer of bold heart and money- 

 making temper might, after selling his crop, build 

 a flatboat, load it with flour, bacon, salt, beef, and 

 tobacco, and start for New Orleans. 7 He faced 

 dangers from the waters, from the Indians, from 

 lawless whites of his own race, and from the Span 

 iards themselves. The New Orleans customs offi 

 cials were corrupt, 8 and the regulations very absurd 

 and oppressive. The policy of the Spanish home 

 government in reference to the trade was unsettled 

 and wavering, and the attitude toward it of the 

 Governors of Louisiana changed with their varying 

 interests, beliefs, caprices, and apprehensions. In 

 consequence, the conditions of the trade were so 

 uncertain that to follow it was like indulging in a 

 lottery venture. Special privileges were allowed 

 certain individuals who had made private treaties 

 with, or had bribed, the Spanish officials ; and others 

 were enabled to smuggle their goods in under vari 

 ous pretences, and by various devices ; while the trad 

 ers who were without such corrupt influence or 

 knowledge found this river commerce hazardous in 

 the extreme. It was small wonder that the Ken- 

 tuckians should chafe under such arbitrary and un 

 equal restraints, and should threaten to break 

 through them by force. 9 



The most successful traders were of course those 



' McAfee MSS. 8 Do. 



9 Va. State Papers, IV, 630. 



