Those who enjoy learning the origin of colorful, American phrases will appreciate this promo from the Delta Queen Steamboat Company of New Orleans. It's a primer on some of the lingo used during the heyday of the paddle boats.
For instance: "Many of the poorer 19th century people seeking land on which to settle floated down the river on rafts, using oars known as the 'rifs' to help them steer. These folks became known as 'riffraff,' which now refers to disreputable people."
Or: “'I cotton to you' came to mean 'I like you,' because the raw cotton that was the chief cargo on most riverboats often stuck to passengers’ clothes."