The Ship's Business in Santa Cruz

We anchored at half past nine on Sunday morning in 25 fathoms water and moored along shore in the same depth. A Spanish packet bound to Corrana, an American brig, and several other vessels were lying here. As there was a great surf on the shore, I bargained for everything I wanted to be brought off by the shoreboats; agreed to give five shillings per ton for water. Very good wine was bought at ten pounds per pipe, but some of this was not much inferior to the best London Madeira. Indian corn, potatoes, pumpkins, and onions were all very scarce, and doubled the price of what they are in summer. Beef also was