Двенадцать лет рабства

           Theplantercutshismarkupontheear,orbrandshisinitialsupontheside,andturnsthemintotheswamps,toroamunrestrictedwithintheiralmostlimitlessconfines. TheyaretheSpanishbreed,smallandspike-horned. IhaveknownofdrovesbeingtakenfromBayouBœuf,butitisofveryrareoccurrence. Thevalueofthebestcowsisaboutfivedollarseach. Twoquartsatonemilking,wouldbeconsideredanunusuallargequantity. Theyfurnishlittletallow,andthatofasoft,inferiorquality. Notwithstandingthegreatnumberofcowsthatthrongtheswamps,theplantersareindebtedtotheNorthfortheircheeseandbutter,whichispurchasedintheNew-Orleansmarket. Saltedbeefisnotanarticleoffoodeitherinthegreathouse,orinthecabin. 

           MasterEppswasaccustomedtoattendshootingmatchesforthepurposeofobtainingwhatfreshbeefherequired. ThesesportsoccurredweeklyattheneighboringvillageofHolmesville. Fatbeevesaredriventhitherandshotat,astipulatedpricebeingdemandedfortheprivilege. Theluckymarksmandividesthefleshamonghisfellows,andinthismannertheattendingplantersaresupplied. 

           ThegreatnumberoftameanduntamedcattlewhichswarmthewoodsandswampsofBayouBœuf,mostprobablysuggestedthatappellationtotheFrench,inasmuchastheterm,translated,signifiesthecreekorriverofthewildox. 

           Gardenproducts,suchascabbages,turnipsandthelike,arecultivatedfortheuseofthemasterandhisfamily. Theyhavegreensandvegetablesatalltimesandseasonsoftheyear.