NE WFO UNDLAND. 5 1 



gether, dirty and greasy, redolent with a commingled 

 fragrance of fish, oil, rum, and tobacco — one calling Heaven 

 to witness in the richest Milesian accents that a certain 

 pair of hose charged in his account never went upon his 

 legs, showing the said legs at the same time, as a patent 

 proof that he had no such stockings four months before ; 

 another affecting great indignation, because the usual 

 charge of one shilling has been made for " hospital ; " 

 another finding the balance of cash due to him rather less 

 than his vivid imagination has anticipated, and romping 

 and tearing about, swearing that he will not touch the 

 dirty money, that the clerks may keep it, that he doesn't 

 care two pins for the clerks, but presently cooling down, 

 pocketing the cash, and signing his beautiful autograph in 

 the receipt-book. The hottest part of this settling business 

 did not last through November ; at least, the crews, the 

 roughest utter plebs, were pretty well done with by the end 

 of that month. But as the year drew near its close, books 

 had to be wound up, long planters' accounts to be copied, 

 ample inventories of all stock in the various stores and 

 shops to be taken and copied, various statements to be 

 drawn up for transmission to England, long letters to be 

 transcribed, and general arrears in many branches to 

 be made up. The winter business, therefore, was long 

 and pretty arduous. 



The prices charged on account varied little ; in general 

 they were about double what they cost in England ; that 

 is to say nominally, but the difference between sterling and 

 currency must be borne in mind. To residents in the 

 town, who paid cash over the counter, prices were con- 

 siderably less. The clerks had all their goods charged to 

 them at the actual invoice prices, to which twenty-five per 

 cent, was then added, and all the cash they had drawn was, 

 at settling time, turned into sterling, and the difference 



