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DESTRUCTION OF THE COTTON CROP IN 1845--DEMAND FOR LABORERS IN ST. MARY'S PARISH--SENT THITHER IN A DROVE--THE ORDER OF THE MARCH--THE GRAND COTEAU--HIRED TO JUDGE TURNER ON BAYOU SALLE--APPOINTED DRIVER IN HIS SUGAR HOUSE--SUNDAY SERVICES SLAVE FURNITURE, HOW OBTAINED--THE PARTY AT YARNEY'S IN CENTREVILLE--GOOD FORTUNE--THE CAPTAIN OF THE STEAMER--HIS REFUSAL TO SECRETE ME--RETURN TO BAYOU BOEUF--SIGHT OF TIBEATS--PATSEY'S SORROWS--TUMULT AND CONTENTION--HUNTING THE COON AND OPOSSUM--THE CUNNING OF THE LATTER--THE LEAN CONDITION OF THE SLAVE--DESCRIPTION OF THE FISH TRAP--THE MURDER OF THE MAN FROM NATCHEZ--EPPS CHALLENGED BY MARSHALL--THE INFLUENCE OF SLAVERY--THE LOVE OF FREEDOM.
The first year of Epps' residence on the bayou, 1845, the caterpillars almost totally destroyed the cotton crop throughout that region.