The Mississippi had (has) an erratic flow. Certainly at the end of the 18th century. Even in the larger cities, building a quay was of little use and that was why floating platforms were attached to mooring posts. The watercolor shows a boat with one wheel behind, the so-called stern wiler. This type of boat was not only cheaper to build but also easier to lay sideways but was not as fast as the so-called side-wheelers. If you look at old images, it is striking that there are so many people yawning and doing nothing. Image size: 260 x 360 mm