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The
flesh
of
the
coon
is
palatable
,
but
verily
there
is
nothing
in
all
butcherdom
so
delicious
as
a
roasted
'
possum
.
They
are
a
round
,
rather
long-bodied
,
little
animal
,
of
a
whitish
color
,
with
nose
like
a
pig
,
and
caudal
extremity
like
a
rat
.
They
burrow
among
the
roots
and
in
the
hollows
of
the
gum
tree
,
and
are
clumsy
and
slow
of
motion
.
They
are
deceitful
and
cunning
creatures
.
On
receiving
the
slightest
tap
of
a
stick
,
they
will
roll
over
on
the
ground
and
feign
death
.
If
the
hunter
leaves
him
,
in
pursuit
of
another
,
without
first
taking
particular
pains
to
break
his
neck
,
the
chances
are
,
on
his
return
,
he
is
not
to
be
found
.
The
little
animal
has
out
witted
the
enemy
--
has
"
played
'
possum
"
--
and
is
off
.
But
after
a
long
and
hard
day
's
work
,
the
weary
slave
feels
little
like
going
to
the
swamp
for
his
supper
,
and
half
the
time
prefers
throwing
himself
on
the
cabin
floor
without
it
.
It
is
for
the
interest
of
the
master
that
the
servant
should
not
suffer
in
health
from
starvation
,
and
it
is
also
for
his
interest
that
he
should
not
become
gross
from
over-feeding
.
In
the
estimation
of
the
owner
,
a
slave
is
the
most
serviceable
when
in
rather
a
lean
and
lank
condition
,
such
a
condition
as
the
race-horse
is
in
,
when
fitted
for
the
course
,
and
in
that
condition
they
are
generally
to
be
found
on
the
sugar
and
cotton
plantations
along
Red
River
.
My
cabin
was
within
a
few
rods
of
the
bayou
bank
,
and
necessity
being
indeed
the
mother
of
invention
,
I
resolved
upon
a
mode
of
obtaining
the
requisite
amount
of
food
,
without
the
trouble
of
resorting
nightly
to
the
woods
.
This
was
to
construct
a
fish
trap
.
Having
,
in
my
mind
,
conceived
the
manner
in
which
it
could
be
done
,
the
next
Sunday
I
set
about
putting
it
into
practical
execution
.
It
may
be
impossible
for
me
to
convey
to
the
reader
a
full
and
correct
idea
of
its
construction
,
but
the
following
will
serve
as
a
general
description
:
A
frame
between
two
and
three
feet
square
is
made
,
and
of
a
greater
or
less
height
,
according
to
the
depth
of
water
.
Boards
or
slats
are
nailed
on
three
sides
of
this
frame
,
not
so
closely
,
however
,
as
to
prevent
the
water
circulating
freely
through
it
.
A
door
is
fitted
into
the
fourth
side
,
in
such
manner
that
it
will
slide
easily
up
and
down
in
the
grooves
cut
in
the
two
posts
.
A
movable
bottom
is
then
so
fitted
that
it
can
be
raised
to
the
top
of
the
frame
without
difficulty
.
In
the
centre
of
the
movable
bottom
an
auger
hole
is
bored
,
and
into
this
one
end
of
a
handle
or
round
stick
is
fastened
on
the
under
side
so
loosely
that
it
will
turn
.
The
handle
ascends
from
the
centre
of
the
movable
bottom
to
the
top
of
the
frame
,
or
as
much
higher
as
is
desirable
.
Up
and
down
this
handle
,
in
a
great
many
places
,
are
gimlet
holes
,
through
which
small
sticks
are
inserted
,
extending
to
opposite
sides
of
the
frame
.
So
many
of
these
small
sticks
are
running
out
from
the
handle
in
all
directions
,
that
a
fish
of
any
considerable
dimensions
can
not
pass
through
without
hitting
one
of
them
.
The
frame
is
then
placed
in
the
water
and
made
stationary
.
The
trap
is
"
set
"
by
sliding
or
drawing
up
the
door
,
and
kept
in
that
position
by
another
stick
,
one
end
of
which
rests
in
a
notch
on
the
inner
side
,
the
other
end
in
a
notch
made
in
the
handle
,
running
up
from
the
centre
of
the
movable
bottom
.
The
trap
is
baited
by
rolling
a
handful
of
wet
meal
and
cotton
together
until
it
becomes
hard
,
and
depositing
it
in
the
back
part
of
the
frame
.
A
fish
swimming
through
the
upraised
door
towards
the
bait
,
necessarily
strikes
one
of
the
small
sticks
turning
the
handle
,
which
displacing
the
stick
supporting
the
door
,
the
latter
falls
,
securing
the
fish
within
the
frame
.
Taking
hold
of
the
top
of
the
handle
,
the
movable
bottom
is
then
drawn
up
to
the
surface
of
the
water
,
and
the
fish
taken
out
.
There
may
have
been
other
such
traps
in
use
before
mine
was
constructed
,
but
if
there
were
I
had
never
happened
to
see
one
.
Bayou
Bœuf
abounds
in
fish
of
large
size
and
excellent
quality
,
and
after
this
time
I
was
very
rarely
in
want
of
one
for
myself
,
or
for
my
comrades
.
Thus
a
mine
was
opened
--
a
new
resource
was
developed
,
hitherto
unthought
of
by
the
enslaved
children
of
Africa
,
who
toil
and
hunger
along
the
shores
of
that
sluggish
,
but
prolific
stream
.
About
the
time
of
which
I
am
now
writing
,
an
event
occurred
in
our
immediate
neighborhood
,
which
made
a
deep
impression
upon
me
,
and
which
shows
the
state
of
society
existing
there
,
and
the
manner
in
which
affronts
are
oftentimes
avenged
.
Directly
opposite
our
quarters
,
on
the
other
side
of
the
bayou
,
was
situated
the
plantation
of
Mr.
Marshall
.
He
belonged
to
a
family
among
the
most
wealthy
and
aristocratic
in
the
country
.
A
gentleman
from
the
vicinity
of
Natchez
had
been
negotiating
with
him
for
the
purchase
of
the
estate
.
One
day
a
messenger
came
in
great
haste
to
our
plantation
,
saying
that
a
bloody
and
fearful
battle
was
going
on
at
Marshall
's
--
that
blood
had
been
spilled
--
and
unless
the
combatants
were
forthwith
separated
,
the
result
would
be
disastrous
.
On
repairing
to
Marshall
's
house
,
a
scene
presented
itself
that
beggars
description
.
On
the
floor
of
one
of
the
rooms
lay
the
ghastly
corpse
of
the
man
from
Natchez
,
while
Marshall
,
enraged
and
covered
with
wounds
and
blood
,
was
stalking
back
and
forth
,
"
breathing
out
threatenings
and
slaughter
.
"
A
difficulty
had
arisen
in
the
course
of
their
negotiation
,
high
words
ensued
,
when
drawing
their
weapons
,
the
deadly
strife
began
that
ended
so
unfortunately
.
Marshall
was
never
placed
in
confinement
.
A
sort
of
trial
or
investigation
was
had
at
Marksville
,
when
he
was
acquitted
,
and
returned
to
his
plantation
,
rather
more
respected
,
as
I
thought
,
than
ever
,
from
the
fact
that
the
blood
of
a
fellow
being
was
on
his
soul
.
Epps
interested
himself
in
his
behalf
,
accompanying
him
to
Marksville
,
and
on
all
occasions
loudly
justifying
him
,
but
his
services
in
this
respect
did
not
afterwards
deter
a
kinsman
of
this
same
Marshall
from
seeking
his
life
also
.
A
brawl
occurred
between
them
over
a
gambling-table
,
which
terminated
in
a
deadly
feud
.
Riding
up
on
horseback
in
front
of
the
house
one
day
,
armed
with
pistols
and
bowie
knife
,
Marshall
challenged
him
to
come
forth
and
make
a
final
settlement
of
the
quarrel
,
or
he
would
brand
him
as
a
coward
,
and
shoot
him
like
a
dog
the
first
opportunity
.
Not
through
cowardice
,
nor
from
any
conscientious
scruples
,
in
my
opinion
,
but
through
the
influence
of
his
wife
,
he
was
restrained
from
accepting
the
challenge
of
his
enemy
.
A
reconciliation
,
however
,
was
effected
afterward
,
since
which
time
they
have
been
on
terms
of
the
closest
intimacy
.
Such
occurrences
,
which
would
bring
upon
the
parties
concerned
in
them
merited
and
condign
punishment
in
the
Northern
States
,
are
frequent
on
the
bayou
,
and
pass
without
notice
,
and
almost
without
comment
.
Every
man
carries
his
bowie
knife
,
and
when
two
fall
out
,
they
set
to
work
hacking
and
thrusting
at
each
other
,
more
like
savages
than
civilized
and
enlightened
beings
.
