University of Virginia Library

[Note A.]

For example:—I knew one honest and excellent man from Missouri:
he had been a hard-working mechanic and farmer, and had
raised sufficient money and credit to obtain a stock of goods to
take to Santa Fe. The St. Louis cost of his goods was 1750 dollars;
the duties at the custom house were 2104 dollars, and a gratuity
to the interpreter of 250 dollars. His stock of goods was sold
in the course of a year, at 30 cents per yard, measuring and including
domestic cloth, silks, and in fine, his whole stock, except ribands.
The result was, after paying the custom house, 1500 dollars
with which to pay the cost of his goods and his expenses in transporting
them.

The duties on common domestic—in fact, on domestic of all
qualities, in 21 cents per yard. Those who take in shoes, silks,
coffee and tobacco, which are contraband, are almost the only men
who make anything.

I have given elsewhere a description of the character of a few of
the New Mexicans. As a circumstance, I may mention that the
regular duties for the year 1831 which ought to have been paid to
the Mexican government from Santa Fe, were nearly 200,000 dollars.
Only 30,000 was forwarded from Santa Fe; the rest found a
way into the pockets of individuals.

Perhaps the reader is at a loss to imagine how such a result is
produced. Reader—the bills are reduced to one third (generally)
of their original amount, and thus passed through the custom
house; and the interpreters and custom house officers share the
gratuity paid by the merchants for this favor and service.