The Journal of Negro History, Volume 4, 1919Various
History
The Journal of Negro History, Volume 4, 1919
Various
African Americans -- Periodicals
When the prisoners, being taken on small boats, reached the
seashore, Mmadi-Make saw with surprise several large vessels, on
one of which he was received with his third master. He supposed
that it was a Spanish vessel. After suffering a storm, they
landed on a coast, and the master promised the child that he
would take him to his mother. The latter, delighted, quickly saw
his hope disappear, finding instead of his mother, his master's
wife, who, moreover, received him very well, kissed him and
treated him with much kindness. Her husband named him Andrew, and
directed him to take the camels to the pasture, and watch them.
It is impossible to say of what nationality this man was, or how
long Angelo, who has now been dead twelve years, lived at his
home. This short memoir has been written down recently from the
story of his friends. But it is known that after a reasonably
long stay, his master announced to him his intention of
transporting him to a country where he would be better off.
Mmadi-Make was greatly pleased with this. His mistress parted
from him with regret. They embarked and arrived at Messina, where
he was conducted to the home of a wealthy lady, who, it appeared,
was expecting to receive him. She treated him kindly, gave him an
instructor to teach him the language of the country, which he
learned with ease. His good nature won for him the friendship of
the numerous servants, among whom he singled out a Negress, named
Angelina, because of her gentleness, and her kindly attitude
towards him. He became dangerously ill; the Marchioness, his
mistress, gave him all the care of a mother, even to the point of
sitting up with him part of the night. The most skillful
physicians were called in and his bed was surrounded by a crowd
of persons who awaited his orders. The Marchioness had long
wished that he would be baptized. After repeated refusals, one
day, during his convalescence, he himself asked for baptism. His
mistress, very much delighted, ordered the most elaborate
preparations. In a parlor there was erected over a stately bed a
canopy richly embroidered. The entire family and all the friends
of the house were present. Mmadi-Make, lying on this bed, was
asked concerning the name he desired to have. Because of
gratitude and his friendship for the Negress Angelina, he wished
to be named Angelo. His desire was granted, and as a family name
he was given that of Solimann. He was accustomed to celebrate
piously the day of his entrance into Christianity, the eleventh
of September, as though it were his birthday.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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