Often these men were merchants 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.

[Footnote: McAfee MSS.] He faced dangers from the waters, from the Indians, from lawless whites of his own race, and from the Spaniards themselves.

The New Orleans customs officials were corrupt, [Footnote: Do.

VOL III-8] and the regulations very absurd and oppressive.