The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Or Gustavus Vassa, The African
believe I was awake. Heavens! who could do justice to my feelings at
this moment! Not conquering heroes themselves, in the midst of a
triumph--Not the tender mother who has just regained her long-lost
infant, and presses it to her heart--Not the weary hungry mariner, at
the sight of the desired friendly port--Not the lover, when he once
more embraces his beloved mistress, after she had been ravished from
his arms!--All within my breast was tumult, wildness, and delirium! My
feet scarcely touched the ground, for they were winged with joy, and,
like Elijah, as he rose to Heaven, they 'were with lightning sped as I
went on.' Every one I met I told of my happiness, and blazed about the
virtue of my amiable master and captain.
When I got to the office and acquainted the Register with my errand he
congratulated me on the occasion, and told me he would draw up my
manumission for half price, which was a guinea. I thanked him for his
kindness; and, having received it and paid him, I hastened to my
master to get him to sign it, that I might be fully released.
Accordingly he signed the manumission that day, so that, before night,
I who had been a slave in the morning, trembling at the will of
another, was become my own master, and completely free. I thought this
was the happiest day I had ever experienced; and my joy was still
heightened by the blessings and prayers of the sable race,
particularly the aged, to whom my heart had ever been attached with
reverence.
* * * * *
As the form of my manumission has something peculiar in it, and
expresses the absolute power and dominion one man claims over his
fellow, I shall beg leave to present it before my readers at full
length:
_Montserrat_.--To all men unto whom these presents shall
come: I Robert King, of the parish of St. Anthony in the
said island, merchant, send greeting: Know ye, that I the
aforesaid Robert King, for and in consideration of the sum
of seventy pounds current money of the said island, to me in
hand paid, and to the intent that a negro man-slave, named
Gustavus Vassa, shall and may become free, have manumitted,
emancipated, enfranchised, and set free, and by these
presents do manumit, emancipate, enfranchise, and set free,
the aforesaid negro man-slave, named Gustavus Vassa, for
ever, hereby giving, granting, and releasing unto him, the
said Gustavus Vassa, all right, title, dominion,
sovereignty, and property, which, as lord and master over
the aforesaid Gustavus Vassa, I had, or now I have, or by
any means whatsoever I may or can hereafter possibly have
over him the aforesaid negro, for ever. In witness whereof I
the abovesaid Robert King have unto these presents set my
hand and seal, this tenth day of July, in the year of our
Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-six.
Robert King.
Signed, sealed, and delivered in the presence of Terrylegay,
Montserrat.
Registered the within manumission at full length, this
eleventh day of July, 1766, in liber D.
Terrylegay, Register.
* * * * *
In short, the fair as well as black people immediately styled me by a
new appellation, to me the most desirable in the world, which was
Freeman, and at the dances I gave my Georgia superfine blue clothes
made no indifferent appearance, as I thought. Some of the sable
females, who formerly stood aloof, now began to relax and appear less
coy; but my heart was still fixed on London, where I hoped to be ere
long. So that my worthy captain and his owner, my late master,
finding that the bent of my mind was towards London, said to me, 'We
hope you won't leave us, but that you will still be with the vessels.'
Here gratitude bowed me down; and none but the generous mind can judge
of my feelings, struggling between inclination and duty. However,
notwithstanding my wish to be in London, I obediently answered my
benefactors that I would go in the vessel, and not leave them; and
from that day I was entered on board as an able-bodied sailor, at
thirty-six shillings per month, besides what perquisites I could make.
My intention was to make a voyage or two, entirely to please these my
honoured patrons; but I determined that the year following, if it
pleased God, I would see Old England once more, and surprise my old
master, Capt. Pascal, who was hourly in my mind; for I still loved
him, notwithstanding his usage of me, and I pleased myself with
thinking of what he would say when he saw what the Lord had done for
me in so short a time, instead of being, as he might perhaps suppose,
under the cruel yoke of some planter. With these kind of reveries I
used often to entertain myself, and shorten the time till my return;
and now, being as in my original free African state, I embarked on
board the Nancy, after having got all things ready for our voyage. In
this state of serenity we sailed for St. Eustatia; and, having smooth
seas and calm weather, we soon arrived there: after taking our cargo
on board, we proceeded to Savannah in Georgia, in August, 1766. While
we were there, as usual, I used to go for the cargo up the rivers in
boats; and on this business I have been frequently beset by
alligators, which were very numerous on that coast, and I have shot
many of them when they have been near getting into our boats; which we
have with great difficulty sometimes prevented, and have been very
much frightened at them. I have seen a young one sold in Georgia alive
for six pence. During our stay at this place, one evening a slave
belonging to Mr. Read, a merchant of Savannah, came near our vessel,
and began to use me very ill. I entreated him, with all the patience I
was master of, to desist, as I knew there was little or no law for a
free negro here; but the fellow, instead of taking my advice,
persevered in his insults, and even struck me. At this I lost all
temper, and I fell on him and beat him soundly. The next morning his
master came to our vessel as we lay alongside the wharf, and desired
me to come ashore that he might have me flogged all round the town,
for beating his negro slave. I told him he had insulted me, and had
given the provocation, by first striking me. I had told my captain
also the whole affair that morning, and wished him to have gone along
with me to Mr. Read, to prevent bad consequences; but he said that it
did not signify, and if Mr. Read said any thing he would make matters
up, and had desired me to go to work, which I accordingly did. The
Captain being on board when Mr. Read came, he told him I was a free
man; and when Mr. Read applied to him to deliver me up, he said he
knew nothing of the matter. I was astonished and frightened at this,
and thought I had better keep where I was than go ashore and be
flogged round the town, without judge or jury. I therefore refused to
stir; and Mr. Read went away, swearing he would bring all the
constables in the town, for he would have me out of the vessel. When
he was gone, I thought his threat might prove too true to my sorrow;
and I was confirmed in this belief, as well by the many instances I
had seen of the treatment of free negroes, as from a fact that had
happened within my own knowledge here a short time before. There was a
free black man, a carpenter, that I knew, who, for asking a gentleman
that he worked for for the money he had earned, was put into gaol; and
afterwards this oppressed man was sent from Georgia, with false
accusations, of an intention to set the gentleman's house on fire, and
run away with his slaves. I was therefore much embarrassed, and very
apprehensive of a flogging at least. I dreaded, of all things, the
thoughts of being striped, as I never in my life had the marks of any
violence of that kind. At that instant a rage seized my soul, and for
a little I determined to resist the first man that should offer to lay
violent hands on me, or basely use me without a trial; for I would
sooner die like a free man, than suffer myself to be scourged by the
hands of ruffians, and my blood drawn like a slave. The captain and
others, more cautious, advised me to make haste and conceal myself;
for they said Mr. Read was a very spiteful man, and he would soon come
on board with constables and take me. At first I refused this counsel,
being determined to stand my ground; but at length, by the prevailing
entreaties of the captain and Mr. Dixon, with whom he lodged, I went
to Mr. Dixon's house, which was a little out of town, at a place
called Yea-ma-chra. I was but just gone when Mr. Read, with the
constables, came for me, and searched the vessel; but, not finding me
there, he swore he would have me dead or alive. I was secreted about
five days; however, the good character which my captain always gave me
as well as some other gentlemen who also knew me, procured me some
friends. At last some of them told my captain that he did not use me
well, in suffering me thus to be imposed upon, and said they would see
me redressed, and get me on board some other vessel. My captain, on
this, immediately went to Mr. Read, and told him, that ever since I
eloped from the vessel his work had been neglected, and he could not
go on with her loading, himself and mate not being well; and, as I had
managed things on board for them, my absence must retard his voyage,
and consequently hurt the owner; he therefore begged of him to forgive
me, as he said he never had any complaint of me before, for the many
years that I had been with him. After repeated entreaties, Mr. Read
said I might go to hell, and that he would not meddle with me; on
which my captain came immediately to me at his lodging, and, telling
me how pleasantly matters had gone on, he desired me to go on board.
Some of my other friends then asked him if he had got the constable's
warrant from them; the captain said, No. On this I was desired by them
to stay in the house; and they said they would get me on board of some
other vessel before the evening. When the captain heard this he became
almost distracted. He went immediately for the warrant, and, after
using every exertion in his power, he at last got it from my hunters;
but I had all the expenses to pay. After I had thanked all my friends
for their attention, I went on board again to my work, of which I had
always plenty. We were in haste to complete our lading, and were to
carry twenty head of cattle with us to the West Indies, where they are
a very profitable article. In order to encourage me in working, and to
make up for the time I had lost, my captain promised me the privilege
of carrying two bullocks of my own with me; and this made me work with
redoubled ardour. As soon as I had got the vessel loaded, in doing
which I was obliged to perform the duty of the mate as well as my own
work, and that the bullocks were near coming on board, I asked the
captain leave to bring my two, according to his promise; but, to my
great surprise, he told me there was no room for them. I then asked
him to permit me to take one; but he said he could not. I was a good
deal mortified at this usage, and told him I had no notion that he
intended thus to impose on me; nor could I think well of any man that
was so much worse than his word. On this we had some disagreement, and
I gave him to understand, that I intended to leave the vessel. At this
he appeared to be very much dejected; and our mate, who had been very
sickly, and whose duty had long devolved upon me, advised him to
persuade me to stay: in consequence of which he spoke very kindly to
me, making many fair promises, telling me that, as the mate was so