The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Or Gustavus Vassa, The African: Written By HimselfEquiano, Olaudah
History
The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Or Gustavus Vassa, The African: Written By Himself
Equiano, Olaudah
Enslaved persons -- Great Britain -- Biography; Enslaved persons -- United States -- Biography; Equiano, Olaudah, 1745-1797
my master, who had been thus imposed on by our mate, though I did not
know who was my enemy, the reason the mate had for imposing this lie
upon him; which was, because I had acquainted the captain of the
provisions the mate had given away or taken out of the vessel. This
speech of the captain was like life to the dead to me, and instantly
my soul glorified God; and still more so on hearing my master
immediately say that I was a sensible fellow, and he never did intend
to use me as a common slave; and that but for the entreaties of the
captain, and his character of me, he would not have let me go from the
stores about as I had done; that also, in so doing, he thought by
carrying one little thing or other to different places to sell I might
make money. That he also intended to encourage me in this by crediting
me with half a puncheon of rum and half a hogshead of sugar at a time;
so that, from being careful, I might have money enough, in some time,
to purchase my freedom; and, when that was the case, I might depend
upon it he would let me have it for forty pounds sterling money, which
was only the same price he gave for me. This sound gladdened my poor
heart beyond measure; though indeed it was no more than the very idea
I had formed in my mind of my master long before, and I immediately
made him this reply: 'Sir, I always had that very thought of you,
indeed I had, and that made me so diligent in serving you.' He then
gave me a large piece of silver coin, such as I never had seen or had
before, and told me to get ready for the voyage, and he would credit
me with a tierce of sugar, and another of rum; he also said that he
had two amiable sisters in Philadelphia, from whom I might get some
necessary things. Upon this my noble captain desired me to go aboard;
and, knowing the African metal, he charged me not to say any thing of
this matter to any body; and he promised that the lying mate should
not go with him any more. This was a change indeed; in the same hour
to feel the most exquisite pain, and in the turn of a moment the
fullest joy. It caused in me such sensations as I was only able to
express in my looks; my heart was so overpowered with gratitude that I
could have kissed both of their feet. When I left the room I
immediately went, or rather flew, to the vessel, which being loaded,
my master, as good as his word, trusted me with a tierce of rum, and
another of sugar, when we sailed, and arrived safe at the elegant town
of Philadelphia. I soon sold my goods here pretty well; and in this
charming place I found every thing plentiful and cheap.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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