56 TRAVELS IN 
at a dear rate ; but they vary the price in pro- 
portion as their ftock is great or fmall ; of 
courfe they bear no fixed price, and the planter 
who comes fiom the defert, and who can un- 
derftand but little of this flud nation, is fure to 
be duped. 
On the other hand, the regular (hopkeeper, 
who knows the probity of thefe farmers, audi 
how puncfiual they are in the payment of their 
debts, exerts every effort to prevail on them to. 
open an account with him. He tempts them 
by the pretended cheap price and excellent 
quality of his fluffs, and offers to remit the 
payment till their next journey in the follow- 
ing year. It Is feldom that thefe people, fim« 
pie and unexperienced as they are, perceive the 
craft that is prefented to them under this guife 
of kindnefs and civility. If they fuffer them- 
felves to be prevailed upon, they are fhackled 
for life. Upon their return, there are new 
purchafes to be made upon the fame con- 
ditions ; and thus, year after year, always in 
debt, always buying v/ithout prompt payment, 
they become the prey of an extortioner, w^ho 
ralfes to himfelf a fortune out of their weak- 
nefs* 
It 
