Двенадцать лет рабства

           Iwasnotinsensibletothepraisebestoweduponme,andenjoyed,especially,mytriumphoverTaydem,whosehalf-maliciousridiculehadstungmypride. FromthistimetheentirecontrolofbringingthelumbertoLamouriewasplacedinmyhandsuntilthecontractwasfulfilled. 

           IndianCreek,initswholelength,flowsthroughamagnificentforest. TheredwellsonitsshoreatribeofIndians,aremnantoftheChickasawsorChickopees,ifIrememberrightly. Theyliveinsimplehuts,tenortwelvefeetsquare,constructedofpinepolesandcoveredwithbark. Theysubsistprincipallyonthefleshofthedeer,thecoon,andopossum,allofwhichareplentyinthesewoods. Sometimestheyexchangevenisonforalittlecornandwhiskywiththeplantersonthebayous. Theirusualdressisbuckskinbreechesandcalicohuntingshirtsoffantasticcolors,buttonedfrombelttochin. Theywearbrassringsontheirwrists,andintheirearsandnoses. Thedressofthesquawsisverysimilar. Theyarefondofdogsandhorses—owningmanyofthelatter,ofasmall,toughbreed—andareskillfulriders. Theirbridles,girthsandsaddlesweremadeofrawskinsofanimals;theirstirrupsofacertainkindofwood. Mountedastridetheirponies,menandwomen,Ihaveseenthemdashoutintothewoodsattheutmostoftheirspeed,followingnarrowwindingpaths,anddodgingtrees,inamannerthateclipsedthemostmiraculousfeatsofcivilizedequestrianism.