A Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Venture, a Native of Africa, but Resident above Sixty Years in the United States of America, Related by HimselfSmith, Venture
History
A Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Venture, a Native of Africa, but Resident above Sixty Years in the United States of America, Related by Himself
Smith, Venture
Slavery -- Connecticut
In this round I continued
during my stay there. One incident that befel me when I was driving
my flock from pasture, was so dreadful to me at that age, and is to
this time fresh in my memory, that I cannot help noticing it in this
place. Two large dogs sallied out of a certain house and set upon me.
One of them took me by the arm, and the other by the thigh, and before
their master could come and relieve me, they lacerated my flesh to
such a degree, that the scars are very visible to the present day. My
master was immediately sent for. He came and carried me home, as I
was unable to go myself on account of my wounds. Nothing remarkable
happened afterwards until my father sent for me to return home.
Before I dismiss this country, I must just inform my reader what I
remember concerning this place. A large river runs through this
country in a westerly course. The land for a great way on each side
is flat and level, hedged in by a considerable rise of the country at
a great distance from it. It scarce ever rains there, yet the land is
fertile; great dews fall in the night which refresh the soil. About
the latter end of June or first of July, the river begins to rise, and
gradually increases until it has inundated the country for a great
distance, to a height of seven or eight feet. This brings on a slime
which enriches the land surprisingly. When the river has subsided,
the natives begin to sow and plant, and the vegetation is exceedingly
rapid. Near this rich river my guardian's land lay. He possessed, I
cannot tell exactly how much, yet this I am certain of respecting it,
that he owned an immense tract. He possessed likewise a great many
cattle and goats. During my stay with him I was kindly used, and with
as much tenderness, for what I saw, as his only son, although I was an
entire stranger to him, remote from friends and relations. The
principal occupation of the inhabitants there, were the cultivation of
the soil and the care of their flocks. They were a people pretty
similar in every respect to that of mine, except in their persons,
which were not so tall and stout. They appeared to be very kind and
friendly. I will now return to my departure from that place.
My father sent a man and horse after me. After settling with my
guardian for keeping me, he took me away and went for home. It was
then about one year since my mother brought me here. Nothing
remarkable occured to us on our journey until we arrived safe home.
I found then that the difference between my parents had been made up
previous to their sending for me. On my return, I was received both
by my father and mother with great joy and affection, and was once
more restored to my paternal dwelling in peace and happiness. I was
then about six years old.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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