Chapter 7

           OnleavingtheNew-Orleansslavepen,HarryandIfollowedournewmasterthroughthestreets,whileEliza,cryingandturningback,wasforcedalongbyFreemanandhisminions,untilwefoundourselvesonboardthesteamboatRodolph,thenlyingatthelevee. InthecourseofhalfanhourweweremovingbrisklyuptheMississippi,boundforsomepointonRedRiver. Therewerequiteanumberofslavesonboardbesideourselves,justpurchasedintheNew-Orleansmarket. IrememberaMr.Kelsow,whowassaidtobeawellknownandextensiveplanter,hadinchargeagangofwomen. 

           Ourmaster’snamewasWilliamFord. Heresidedtheninthe"GreatPineWoods,"intheparishofAvoyelles,situatedontherightbankofRedRiver,intheheartofLouisiana. HeisnowaBaptistpreacher. ThroughoutthewholeparishofAvoyelles,andespeciallyalongbothshoresofBayouBœuf,whereheismoreintimatelyknown,heisaccountedbyhisfellow-citizensasaworthyministerofGod. Inmanynorthernminds,perhaps,theideaofamanholdinghisbrothermaninservitude,andthetrafficinhumanflesh,mayseemaltogetherincompatiblewiththeirconceptionsofamoralorreligiouslife. FromdescriptionsofsuchmenasBurchandFreeman,andothershereinaftermentioned,theyareledtodespiseandexecratethewholeclassofslaveholders,indiscriminately.