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
When I got into the church I saw this pious man
exhorting the people with the greatest fervour and earnestness, and
sweating as much as I ever did while in slavery on Montserrat beach. I
was very much struck and impressed with this; I thought it strange I
had never seen divines exert themselves in this manner before, and I
was no longer at a loss to account for the thin congregations they
preached to. When we had discharged our cargo here, and were loaded
again, we left this fruitful land once more, and set sail for
Montserrat. My traffic had hitherto succeeded so well with me, that I
thought, by selling my goods when we arrived at Montserrat, I should
have enough to purchase my freedom. But, as soon as our vessel arrived
there, my master came on board, and gave orders for us to go to St.
Eustatia, and discharge our cargo there, and from thence proceed for
Georgia. I was much disappointed at this; but thinking, as usual, it
was of no use to encounter with the decrees of fate, I submitted
without repining, and we went to St. Eustatia. After we had discharged
our cargo there we took in a live cargo, as we call a cargo of slaves.
Here I sold my goods tolerably well; but, not being able to lay out
all my money in this small island to as much advantage as in many
other places, I laid out only part, and the remainder I brought away
with me neat. We sailed from hence for Georgia, and I was glad when we
got there, though I had not much reason to like the place from my last
adventure in Savannah; but I longed to get back to Montserrat and
procure my freedom, which I expected to be able to purchase when I
returned. As soon as we arrived here I waited on my careful doctor,
Mr. Brady, to whom I made the most grateful acknowledgments in my
power for his former kindness and attention during my illness. While
we were here an odd circumstance happened to the Captain and me, which
disappointed us both a good deal. A silversmith, whom we had brought
to this place some voyages before, agreed with the Captain to return
with us to the West Indies, and promised at the same time to give the
Captain a great deal of money, having pretended to take a liking to
him, and being, as we thought, very rich. But while we stayed to load
our vessel this man was taken ill in a house where he worked, and in a
week's time became very bad. The worse he grew the more he used to
speak of giving the Captain what he had promised him, so that he
expected something considerable from the death of this man, who had no
wife or child, and he attended him day and night. I used also to go
with the Captain, at his own desire, to attend him; especially when we
saw there was no appearance of his recovery: and, in order to
recompense me for my trouble, the Captain promised me ten pounds, when
he should get the man's property. I thought this would be of great
service to me, although I had nearly money enough to purchase my
freedom, if I should get safe this voyage to Montserrat. In this
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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