The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Or Gustavus Vassa, The African
resolved in myself as soon as he attempted to put the fire in the
barrel to chop him down that instant. I was more than an hour in this
situation; during which he struck me often, still keeping the fire in
his hand for this wicked purpose. I really should have thought myself
justifiable in any other part of the world if I had killed him, and
prayed to God, who gave me a mind which rested solely on himself. I
prayed for resignation, that his will might be done; and the following
two portions of his holy word, which occurred to my mind, buoyed up my
hope, and kept me from taking the life of this wicked man. 'He hath
determined the times before appointed, and set bounds to our
habitations,' Acts xvii. 26. And, 'Who is there amongst you that
feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh
in darkness and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord,
and stay upon his God,' Isaiah 1. 10. And thus by the grace of God I
was enabled to do. I found him a present help in the time of need, and
the captain's fury began to subside as the night approached: but I
found,
"That he who cannot stem his anger's tide
Doth a wild horse without a bridle ride."
The next morning we discovered that the vessel which had caused such a
fury in the captain was an English sloop. They soon came to an anchor
where we were, and, to my no small surprise, I learned that Doctor
Irving was on board of her on his way from the Musquito shore to
Jamaica. I was for going immediately to see this old master and
friend, but the captain would not suffer me to leave the vessel. I
then informed the doctor, by letter, how I was treated, and begged
that he would take me out of the sloop: but he informed me that it was
not in his power, as he was a passenger himself; but he sent me some
rum and sugar for my own use. I now learned that after I had left the
estate which I managed for this gentleman on the Musquito shore,
during which the slaves were well fed and comfortable, a white
overseer had supplied my place: this man, through inhumanity and
ill-judged avarice, beat and cut the poor slaves most unmercifully;
and the consequence was, that every one got into a large Puriogua
canoe, and endeavoured to escape; but not knowing where to go, or how
to manage the canoe, they were all drowned; in consequence of which
the doctor's plantation was left uncultivated, and he was now
returning to Jamaica to purchase more slaves and stock it again. On
the 14th of October the Indian Queen arrived at Kingston in Jamaica.
When we were unloaded I demanded my wages, which amounted to eight
pounds and five shillings sterling; but Captain Baker refused to give
me one farthing, although it was the hardest-earned money I ever
worked for in my life. I found out Doctor Irving upon this, and
acquainted him of the captain's knavery. He did all he could to help
me to get my money; and we went to every magistrate in Kingston (and
there were nine), but they all refused to do any thing for me, and
said my oath could not be admitted against a white man. Nor was this
all; for Baker threatened that he would beat me severely if he could
catch me for attempting to demand my money; and this he would have
done, but that I got, by means of Dr. Irving, under the protection of
Captain Douglas of the Squirrel man of war. I thought this exceedingly
hard usage; though indeed I found it to be too much the practice there
to pay free men for their labour in this manner. One day I went with a
free negroe taylor, named Joe Diamond, to one Mr. Cochran, who was
indebted to him some trifling sum; and the man, not being able to get
his money, began to murmur. The other immediately took a horse-whip to
pay him with it; but, by the help of a good pair of heels, the taylor
got off. Such oppressions as these made me seek for a vessel to get
off the island as fast as I could; and by the mercy of God I found a
ship in November bound for England, when I embarked with a convoy,
after having taken a last farewell of Doctor Irving. When I left
Jamaica he was employed in refining sugars; and some months after my
arrival in England I learned, with much sorrow, that this my amiable
friend was dead, owing to his having eaten some poisoned fish. We had
many very heavy gales of wind in our passage; in the course of which
no material incident occurred, except that an American privateer,
falling in with the fleet, was captured and set fire to by his
Majesty's ship the Squirrel. On January the seventh, 1777, we arrived
at Plymouth. I was happy once more to tread upon English ground; and,
after passing some little time at Plymouth and Exeter among some pious
friends, whom I was happy to see, I went to London with a heart
replete with thanks to God for all past mercies.
CHAP. XII.
_Different transactions of the author's life till the
present time--His application to the late Bishop of London
to be appointed a missionary to Africa--Some account of his
share in the conduct of the late expedition to Sierra
Leona--Petition to the Queen--Conclusion._
Such were the various scenes which I was a witness to, and the fortune
I experienced until the year 1777. Since that period my life has been
more uniform, and the incidents of it fewer, than in any other equal
number of years preceding; I therefore hasten to the conclusion of a
narrative, which I fear the reader may think already sufficiently
tedious.
I had suffered so many impositions in my commercial transactions in
different parts of the world, that I became heartily disgusted with
the sea-faring life, and I was determined not to return to it, at
least for some time. I therefore once more engaged in service shortly
after my return, and continued for the most part in this situation
until 1784.
Soon after my arrival in London, I saw a remarkable circumstance
relative to African complexion, which I thought so extraordinary, that
I beg leave just to mention it: A white negro woman, that I had
formerly seen in London and other parts, had married a white man, by
whom she had three boys, and they were every one mulattoes, and yet
they had fine light hair. In 1779 I served Governor Macnamara, who had
been a considerable time on the coast of Africa. In the time of my
service, I used to ask frequently other servants to join me in family
prayers; but this only excited their mockery. However, the Governor,
understanding that I was of a religious turn, wished to know of what
religion I was; I told him I was a protestant of the church of
England, agreeable to the thirty-nine articles of that church, and
that whomsoever I found to preach according to that doctrine, those I
would hear. A few days after this, we had some more discourse on the
same subject: the Governor spoke to me on it again, and said that he
would, if I chose, as he thought I might be of service in converting
my countrymen to the Gospel faith, get me sent out as a missionary to
Africa. I at first refused going, and told him how I had been served
on a like occasion by some white people the last voyage I went to
Jamaica, when I attempted (if it were the will of God) to be the means
of converting the Indian prince; and I said I supposed they would
serve me worse than Alexander the coppersmith did St. Paul, if I
should attempt to go amongst them in Africa. He told me not to fear,
for he would apply to the Bishop of London to get me ordained. On
these terms I consented to the Governor's proposal to go to Africa, in
hope of doing good if possible amongst my countrymen; so, in order to
have me sent out properly, we immediately wrote the following letters
to the late Bishop of London:
_To the Right Reverend Father in God_,
ROBERT, _Lord Bishop of London_:
The MEMORIAL of Gustavus Vassa
Sheweth,
That your memorialist is a native of Africa, and has a
knowledge of the manners and customs of the inhabitants of
that country.
That your memorialist has resided in different parts of
Europe for twenty-two years last past, and embraced the
Christian faith in the year 1759.
That your memorialist is desirous of returning to Africa as
a missionary, if encouraged by your Lordship, in hopes of
being able to prevail upon his countrymen to become
Christians; and your memorialist is the more induced to
undertake the same, from the success that has attended the
like undertakings when encouraged by the Portuguese through
their different settlements on the coast of Africa, and also
by the Dutch: both governments encouraging the blacks, who,
by their education are qualified to undertake the same, and
are found more proper than European clergymen, unacquainted
with the language and customs of the country.
Your memorialist's only motive for soliciting the office of
a missionary is, that he may be a means, under God, of
reforming his countrymen and persuading them to embrace the
Christian religion. Therefore your memorialist humbly prays
your Lordship's encouragement and support in the
undertaking.
GUSTAVUS VASSA.
At Mr. Guthrie's, taylor,
No. 17, Hedge-lane.
My Lord,
I have resided near seven years on the coast of Africa, for
most part of the time as commanding officer. From the
knowledge I have of the country and its inhabitants, I am
inclined to think that the within plan will be attended with
great success, if countenanced by your Lordship. I beg leave
further to represent to your Lordship, that the like
attempts, when encouraged by other governments, have met
with uncommon success; and at this very time I know a very
respectable character a black priest at Cape Coast Castle. I
know the within named Gustavus Vassa, and believe him a
moral good man.
I have the honour to be,
My Lord,
Your Lordship's
Humble and obedient servant,
MATT. MACNAMARA.
Grove, 11th March 1779.
This letter was also accompanied by the following from Doctor Wallace,
who had resided in Africa for many years, and whose sentiments on the
subject of an African mission were the same with Governor Macnamara's.
_March 13, 1779_.
My Lord,
I have resided near five years on Senegambia on the coast of
Africa, and have had the honour of filling very considerable
employments in that province. I do approve of the within
plan, and think the undertaking very laudable and proper,
and that it deserves your Lordship's protection and
encouragement, in which case it must be attended with the
intended success.
I am,
My Lord,
Your Lordship's
Humble and obedient servant,
THOMAS WALLACE.
With these letters, I waited on the Bishop by the Governor's desire,
and presented them to his Lordship. He received me with much
condescension and politeness; but, from some certain scruples of
delicacy, declined to ordain me.
My sole motive for thus dwelling on this transaction, or inserting
these papers, is the opinion which gentlemen of sense and education,
who are acquainted with Africa, entertain of the probability of
converting the inhabitants of it to the faith of Jesus Christ, if the