TORNEA. 185 



them between the parties; but when the 

 former returns from Stockholm, he sets 

 down in his accompt-book nearly the sum 

 for which he has disposed of the articles 

 there. In this the peasant trusts to the 

 honour of the merchant, and is paid ac- 

 cordingly. 



6. These prices are not communicated 

 to the countryman immediately, nor does 

 he know the price of the salt, tobacco, 

 corn, and other articles, with which the 

 merchant supplies him in return, till they 

 settle accompts ; which does not take place 

 till the end of every year, or perhaps not sq 

 frequently. 



7. As long as a peasant keeps to one 

 merchant, he is allowed credit, and obtains 

 advances of any money for which he may 

 have occasion, even although the goods de- 

 livered do not amount to the interest of the 

 sum lent, which is sometimes equal to 1000 

 dollars. But if he carries any of his goods 

 to another merchant, he must immediately 

 pay what he owes to his original correspou- 



