Дванадцять років рабства

           Aslavecaughtoffhismaster’splantationwithoutapass,maybeseizedandwhippedbyanywhitemanwhomhemeets. TheoneInowreceivedwasdated,andreadasfollows: 

           "PlatthaspermissiontogotoFord’splantation,onBayouBœuf,andreturnbyTuesdaymorning. 

           JohnM.Tibeats." 

           Thisistheusualform. Ontheway,agreatmanydemandedit,readit,andpassedon. Thosehavingtheairandappearanceofgentlemen,whosedressindicatedthepossessionofwealth,frequentlytooknonoticeofmewhatever; butashabbyfellow,anunmistakableloafer,neverfailedtohailme,andtoscrutinizeandexaminemeinthemostthoroughmanner. Catchingrunawaysissometimesamoney-makingbusiness. If,afteradvertising,noownerappears,theymaybesoldtothehighestbidder;andcertainfeesareallowedthefinderforhisservices,atallevents,evenifreclaimed. "Ameanwhite,"therefore,—anameappliedtothespeciesloafer—considersitagod-sendtomeetanunknownnegrowithoutapass. 

           TherearenoinnsalongthehighwaysinthatportionoftheStatewhereIsojourned. Iwaswhollydestituteofmoney,neitherdidIcarryanyprovisions,onmyjourneyfromtheBigCanetoBayouBœuf; nevertheless,withhispassinhishand,aslaveneedneversufferfromhungerorfromthirst. Itisonlynecessarytopresentittothemasteroroverseerofaplantation,andstatehiswants,whenhewillbesentroundtothekitchenandprovidedwithfoodorshelter,asthecasemayrequire.