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to work their days for rations to the neglect of the laborers crop, this the latter refuse to comply with. However where cases of this nature have come to my knowledge, I have had them corrected and insisted [[?]] having the contracts faithfully carried out."

Rice [[?]] F[[?]]
Mr [[?]] Markw[[?]]d, Agent at Georgetown reports
"I have to say that the prospects for a rice crop this year is doubtful. 7/8 of the plantations on the rivers mentioned are submersed, and one half of this land has been planted, and the consequence is, if the water cannot be got off in time, the rice planted will be a total loss, and the land is so much broken up by the fre[[shet]], that it will be almost impossible to have the same land prepared again, in time to set [[?]] other crop, and the planters will not, in many cases, be able to replace the seed so lost (for [[?]] of means) [[?]] planters who have not yet planted their prospects are better, they will however have much hard labor before they can get their lands in order again for planting."

Destitution
"The destitution existing here is so appalling and if the crops are a failure this year I cannot conceive the result."
The majority of the planters say that the freedpeople are working better this year, than at any other time since the emancipation."