Who are these "black-robed judges" with their "inquisitorial voices"?

the correct answer is the following is a list of inventions made in the medieval islamic world, especially during the "islamic golden age" (8th to 13th centuries),[1][2] as well as the late medieval period, especially in the emirate of granada and the ottoman empire.

science and technology in the islamic world adopted and preserved knowledge and technologies from contemporary and earlier civilizations, including persia, india, china, and greece-roman antiquity, while making a number of improvements and innovations.

the answer is solomon northrup. he was a free-born african american, abolitionist and professional violinist that was drugged, kidnapped and sold as slave in 1841 and remained in captivity until 1853 where he regained his freedom with the of the then-governor of new york, washington hunt. he wrote and published his memoirs "twelve years a slave" in 1853, and in this text, he tells the story of his escape thru one of louisiana's swamps (the great pacoudrie swamp) in which he ended up covered in green slime from crossing the surface of the dead water.