Thirty Years a Slave | Page 7

Uncle Jim was there. He had run away, some time before, and, for
some reason, had returned. Boss, upon hearing the news, got up and
sent me to tell the overseer to come at once. He came, and, taking the
bull whip, a cowhide and a lot of peach-tree switches, he and Boss led
Uncle Jim back into the cow lot, on the side of the hill, where they
drove four stakes in the ground, and, laying him flat on his face, tied
his hands and feet to these stakes. After whipping him, in this position,
all they wanted to, a pail of strong salt and water was brought, and the
poor fellow was "washed down." This washing was customary, after
whippings, as the planters claimed it drew out all the soreness, and
healed the lacerated flesh.
Upon one occasion, the family being away, I was left extra work to do,
being set to help three fellow slaves lay off the rows for planting corn.
We did not get them quite straight. The deviation we made from the
line was very little, and could scarcely be seen, even by an expert; but
the least thing wrong about the work would cause any slave to be
whipped, and so all four of us were flogged.
* * * * *

THE SLAVE CABIN.
There was a section of the plantation known as "the quarters," where
were situated the cabins of the slaves. These cabins were built of rough
logs, and daubed with the red clay or mud of the region. No attempt
was made to give them a neat appearance--they were not even
whitewashed. Each cabin was about fourteen feet square, containing
but one room, and was covered with oak boards, three feet in length,
split out of logs by hand. These boards were not nailed on, but held in
their places by what were termed weight-poles laid across them at right
angles. There were in each room two windows, a door and a large, rude
fire-place. The door and window frames, or facings, were held in their
places by wooden pins, nails being used only in putting the doors
together. The interior of the cabins had nothing more attractive than the
outside--there was no plastering and only a dirt floor. The furniture
consisted of one bed, a plain board table and some benches made by the
slaves themselves. Sometimes a cabin was occupied by two or more
families, in which case the number of beds was increased
proportionately. For light a grease lamp was used, which was made of
iron, bowl shaped, by a blacksmith. The bowl was filled with grease
and a rag or wick placed in it, one end resting on the edge for lighting.
These lamps gave a good light, and were in general use among the
slaves. Tallow candles were a luxury, never seen except in the "great
houses" of the planters. The only light for outdoors used by the slaves
was a torch made by binding together a bundle of small sticks or
splinters.
* * * * *
COTTON RAISING.
After the selection of the soil most suitable for cotton, the preparation
of it was of vital importance. The land was deeply plowed, long enough
before the time for planting to allow the spring rains to settle it. Then it
was thrown into beds or ridges by turning furrows both ways toward a
given center. The seed was planted at the rate of one hundred pounds
per acre. The plant made its appearance in about ten days after planting,
if the weather was favorable. Early planting, however, followed by cold,

stormy weather frequently caused the seed to rot. As soon as the third
leaf appeared the process of scraping commenced, which consisted of
cleaning the ridge with hoes of all superfluous plants and all weeds and
grass. After this a narrow plow known as a "bull tongue," was used to
turn the loose earth around the plant and cover up any grass not totally
destroyed by the hoes. If the surface was very rough the hoes followed,
instead of preceding, the plow to unearth those plants that may have
been partially covered. The slaves often acquired great skill in these
operations, running plows within two inches of the stalks, and striking
down weeds within half an inch with their hoes, rarely touching a leaf
of the cotton. Subsequent plowing, alternating with hoeing, usually
occurred once in twenty days. There was danger in deep plowing of
injuring the roots, and this was avoided, except in the middle of rows in
wet seasons when it was necessary to bury and more effectually kill the
grass. The implements used in the culture of cotton were shovels, hoes,
sweeps, cultivators, harrows and two kinds of plows. It required four
months,