Дванадцять років рабства
Chapter 12
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.