Дванадцять років рабства

           Upanddownthishandle,inagreatmanyplaces,aregimletholes,throughwhichsmallsticksareinserted,extendingtooppositesidesoftheframe. Somanyofthesesmallsticksarerunningoutfromthehandleinalldirections,thatafishofanyconsiderabledimensionscannotpassthroughwithouthittingoneofthem. Theframeisthenplacedinthewaterandmadestationary. 

           Thetrapis"set"byslidingordrawingupthedoor,andkeptinthatpositionbyanotherstick,oneendofwhichrestsinanotchontheinnerside,theotherendinanotchmadeinthehandle,runningupfromthecentreofthemovablebottom. Thetrapisbaitedbyrollingahandfulofwetmealandcottontogetheruntilitbecomeshard,anddepositingitinthebackpartoftheframe. Afishswimmingthroughtheupraiseddoortowardsthebait,necessarilystrikesoneofthesmallsticksturningthehandle,whichdisplacingthesticksupportingthedoor,thelatterfalls,securingthefishwithintheframe. Takingholdofthetopofthehandle,themovablebottomisthendrawnuptothesurfaceofthewater,andthefishtakenout. Theremayhavebeenothersuchtrapsinusebeforeminewasconstructed,butiftherewereIhadneverhappenedtoseeone. BayouBœufaboundsinfishoflargesizeandexcellentquality,andafterthistimeIwasveryrarelyinwantofoneformyself,orformycomrades. Thusaminewasopened—anewresourcewasdeveloped,hithertounthoughtofbytheenslavedchildrenofAfrica,whotoilandhungeralongtheshoresofthatsluggish,butprolificstream.