70: 15. März 1846, Indianpoint on the Lavaca Bay

brings along scythes, sickles, straight wood chains, harness lines, grubbing hoes, potato hoes, and other farming tools, because these items are very expensive and not so easy to obtain here. Tobacco-cigars, pipes, and linen cloth could be sold here at a significant profit, since a cigar costs 4 cents here. Also, with good double-barreled guns with one rifled bore and one smooth bore, in addition, good gun powder, percussion caps and lead from which one can mold bullets and all kinds of small shot, one could make a considerable profit as well, because these wares are very expensive here, very prized, and are in demand. Of course the joining of Texas with the United States of America brought along with it a significant reduction in prices in the sale of these wares in that the earlier, customarily very high import duty has been lifted. Even disregarding this, one could still obtain a considerable profit.

Other hardware and fabrics one can obtain directly out of the United States, which are better and comparatively lower priced, therefore are more in demand than the European.

Many of our European arrivals are no longer among the living, but were struck with different illnesses, fell upon sickbeds, and soon thereafter were claimed by death, so their bodies have found resting places in the bosom of the earth of the new homeland. The Lord has mercifully kept me and all of mine up to now. His mercy and grace have come over us in the new homeland, too, and has protected us from every disaster. To Him therefore be honor, praise and glory, from eternity to eternity, to His divine all merciful and gracious care I continue to entrust myself, in the dark future. He will do well with me and mine always. Amen!