Двенадцать лет рабства

           Ihadnoregularperiodsofrest,andcouldneversnatchbutafewmomentsofsleepatatime. 

           ItisthecustominLouisiana,asIpresumeitisinotherslaveStates,toallowtheslavetoretainwhatevercompensationhemayobtainforservicesperformedonSundays. Inthisway,only,aretheyabletoprovidethemselveswithanyluxuryorconveniencewhatever. Whenaslave,purchased,orkidnappedintheNorth,istransportedtoacabinonBayouBœufheisfurnishedwithneitherknife,norfork,nordish,norkettle,noranyotherthingintheshapeofcrockery,orfurnitureofanynatureordescription. Heisfurnishedwithablanketbeforehereachesthere,andwrappingthataroundhim,hecaneitherstandup,orliedownupontheground,oronaboard,ifhismasterhasnouseforit. Heisatlibertytofindagourdinwhichtokeephismeal,orhecaneathiscornfromthecob,justashepleases. Toaskthemasterforaknife,orskillet,oranysmallconvenienceofthekind,wouldbeansweredwithakick,orlaughedatasajoke. WhatevernecessaryarticleofthisnatureisfoundinacabinhasbeenpurchasedwithSundaymoney. Howeverinjurioustothemorals,itiscertainlyablessingtothephysicalconditionoftheslave,tobepermittedtobreaktheSabbath.Otherwisetherewouldbenowaytoprovidehimselfwithanyutensils,whichseemtobeindispensabletohimwhoiscompelledtobehisowncook. 

           Oncaneplantationsinsugartime,thereisnodistinctionastothedaysoftheweek.