Slave Narratives

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by William L. Andrews


  Sold also by Mr. Johnson, St. Paul’s Church-Yard; Mr. Murray, Fleet-Street; Messrs. Robson and Clark, Bond-Street; Mr. Davis, opposite Gray’s Inn, Holborn; Messrs. Shepperson and Reynolds, and Mr. Jackson, Oxford-Street; Mr. Lackington, Chiswell-Street; Mr. Mathews, Strand; Mr. Murray, Prince’s-Street, Soho; Mess. Taylor and Co. South Arch, Royal Exchange; Mr. Button, Newington-Causeway; Mr. Parsons, Paternoster-Row; and may be had of all the Booksellers in Town and Country.

  [Entered at Stationer’s Hall.]

  TO THE LORDS SPIRITUAL AND TEMPORAL, AND THE COMMONS OF THE PARLIAMENT OF GREAT BRITAIN.

  My Lords and Gentlemen,

  PERMIT me, with the greatest deference and respect, to lay at your feet the following genuine Narrative; the chief design of which is to excite in your august assemblies a sense of compassion for the miseries which the Slave-Trade has entailed on my unfortunate countrymen. By the horrors of that trade was I first torn away from all the tender connexions that were naturally dear to my heart; but these, through the mysterious ways of Providence, I ought to regard as infinitely more than compensated by the introduction I have thence obtained to the knowledge of the Christian religion, and of a nation which, by its liberal sentiments, its humanity, the glorious freedom of its government, and its proficiency in arts and sciences, has exalted the dignity of human nature.

  I am sensible I ought to entreat your pardon for addressing to you a work so wholly devoid of literary merit; but, as the production of an unlettered African, who is actuated by the hope of becoming an instrument towards the relief of his suffering countrymen, I trust that such a man, pleading in such a cause, will be acquitted of boldness and presumption.

  May the God of heaven inspire your hearts with peculiar benevolence on that important day when the question of Abolition is to be discussed, when thousands, in consequence of your Determination, are to look for Happiness or Misery!

  I am,

  MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,

  Your most obedient,

  And devoted humble Servant,

  OLAUDAH EQUIANO,

  OR

  GUSTAVUS VASSA.

  Union-Street, Mary-le-bone,

  March 24, 1789.

  LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS.

  His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales.

  His Royal Highness the Duke of York.

  A

  The Right Hon. the Earl of Ailesbury

  Admiral Affleck

  Mr. William Abington, 2 copies

  Mr. John Abraham

  James Adair, Esq.

  Reverend Mr. Aldridge

  Mr. John Almon

  Mrs. Arnot

  Mr. Joseph Armitage

  Mr. Joseph Ashpinshaw

  Mr. Samuel Atkins

  Mr. John Atwood

  Mr. Thomas Atwood

  Mr. Ashwell

  J. C. Ashworth, Esq.

  B

  His Grace the Duke of Bedford

  Her Grace the Duchess of Buccleugh

  The Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Bangor

  The Right Hon. Lord Belgrave

  The Rev. Doctor Baker

  Mrs. Baker

  Matthew Baillie, M. D.

  Mrs. Baillie

  Miss Baillie

  Miss J. Baillie

  David Barclay, Esq.

  Mr. Robert Barrett

  Mr. William Barrett

  Mr. John Barnes

  Mr. John Basnett

  Mr. Bateman

  Mrs. Baynes, 2 copies

  Mr. Thomas Bellamy

  Mr. J. Benjafield

  Mr. William Bennett

  Mr. Bensley

  Mr. Samuel Benson

  Mrs. Benton

  Reverend Mr. Bentley

  Mr. Thomas Bently

  Sir John Berney, Bart.

  Alexander Blair, Esq.

  James Bocock, Esq.

  Mrs. Bond

  Miss Bond

  Mrs. Borckhardt

  Mrs. E. Bouverie

  —— Brand, Esq.

  Mr. Martin Brander

  F. J. Brown, Esq. M. P. 2 copies

  W. Buttall, Esq.

  Mr. Buxton

  Mr. R. L. B.

  Mr. Thomas Burton, 6 copies

  Mr. W. Button

  C

  The Right Hon. Lord Cathcart

  The Right Hon. H. S. Conway

  Lady Almiria Carpenter

  James Carr, Esq.

  Charles Carter, Esq.

  Mr. James Chalmers

  Captain John Clarkson, of the Royal Navy

  The Rev. Mr. Thomas Clarkson, 2 copies

  Mr. R. Clay

  Mr. William Clout

  Mr. George Club

  Mr. John Cobb

  Miss Calwell

  Mr. Thomas Cooper

  Richard Cosway, Esq.

  Mr. James Coxe

  Mr. J. C.

  Mr. Croucher

  Mr. Cruickshanks

  Ottobah Cugoano, or John Stewart

  D

  The Right Hon. the Earl of Dartmouth

  The Right Hon. the Earl of Derby

  Sir William Dolben, Bart.

  The Reverend C. E. De Coetlogon

  John Delamain, Esq.

  Mrs. Delamain

  Mr. Davis

  Mr. William Denton

  Mr. T. Dickie

  Mr. William Dickson

  Mr. Charles Dilly, 2 copies

  Andrew Drummond, Esq.

  Mr. George Durant

  E

  The Right Hon. the Earl of Essex

  The Right Hon. the Countess of Essex

  Sir Gilbert Elliot, Bart. 2 copies

  Lady Ann Erskine

  G. Noel Edwards, Esq. M. P. 2 copies

  Mr. Durs Egg

  Mr. Ebenezer Evans

  The Reverend Mr. John Eyre

  Mr. William Eyre

  F

  Mr. George Fallowdown

  Mr. John Fell

  F. W. Foster, Esq.

  The Reverend Mr. Foster

  Mr. J. Frith

  W. Fuller, Esq.

  G

  The Right Hon. the Earl of Gainsborough

  The Right Hon. the Earl of Grosvenor

  The Right Hon. Viscount Gallway

  The Right Hon. Viscountess Gallway

  —— Gardner, Esq.

  Mrs. Garrick

  Mr. John Gates

  Mr. Samuel Gear

  Sir Philip Gibbes, Bart 6 copies

  Miss Gibbes

  Mr. Edward Gilbert

  Mr. Jonathan Gillett

  W. P. Gilliess, Esq.

  Mrs. Gordon

  Mr. Grange

  Mr. William Grant

  Mr. John Grant

  Mr. R. Greening

  S. Griffiths

  John Grove, Esq.

  Mrs. Guerin

  Reverend Mr. Gwinep

  H

  The Right Hon. the Earl of Hopetoun

  The Right Hon. Lord Hawke

  Right Hon. Dowager Countess of Huntingdon

  Thomas Hall, Esq.

  Mr. Haley

  Hugh Josiah Hansard, Esq.

  Mr. Moses Hart

  Mrs. Hawkins

  Mr. Haysom

  Mr. Hearne

  Mr. William Hepburn

  Mr. J. Hibbert

  Mr. Jacob Higman

  Sir Richard Hill, Bart.

  Reverend Rowland Hill

  Miss Hill

  Captain John Hills, Royal Navy

  Edmund Hill, Esq.

  The Reverend Mr. Edward Hoare

  William Hodges, Esq.

  Reverend Mr. John Holmes, 3 copies

  Mr. Martin Hopkins

  Mr. Thomas Howell

  Mr. R. Huntley

  Mr. J. Hunt

  Mr. Philip Hurlock, jun.

  Mr. Hutson

  J

  Mr. T. W. J. Esq.

  Mr. James Jackson

  Mr. John Jackson

  Reverend Mr, James

  Mrs. Anne Jennings


  Mr. Johnson

  Mrs. Johnson

  Mr. William Jones

  Thomas Irving, Esq. 2 copies

  Mr. William Justins

  K

  The Right Hon. Lord Kinnaird

  William Kendall, Esq.

  Mr. William Ketland

  Mr. Edward King

  Mr. Thomas Kingston

  Reverend Dr. Kippis

  Mr. William Kitchener

  Mr. John Knight

  L

  The Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of London

  Mr. John Laisne

  Mr. Lackington, 6 copies

  Mr. John Lamb

  Bennet Langton, Esq.

  Mr. S. Lee

  Mr. Walter Lewis

  Mr. J. Lewis

  Mr. J. Lindsey

  Mr. T. Litchfield

  Edward Loveden Loveden, Esq. M. P.

  Charles Lloyd, Esq.

  Mr. William Lloyd

  Mr. J. B. Lucas

  Mr. James Luken

  Henry Lyte, Esq.

  Mrs. Lyon

  M

  His Grace the Duke of Marlborough

  His Grace the Duke of Montague

  The Right Hon. Lord Mulgrave

  Sir Herbert Mackworth, Bart.

  Sir Charles Middleton, Bart.

  Lady Middleton

  Mr. Thomas Macklane

  Mr. George Markett

  James Martin, Esq. M. P.

  Master Martin, Hayes-Grove, Kent

  Mr. William Massey

  Mr. Joseph Massingham

  John McIntosh, Esq.

  Paul Le Mesurier, Esq. M. P.

  Mr. James Mewburn

  Mr. N. Middleton,

  T. Mitchell, Esq.

  Mrs. Montague, 2 copies

  Miss Hannah More

  Mr. George Morrison

  Thomas Morris, Esq.

  Miss Morris

  Morris Morgann, Esq.

  N

  His Grace the Duke of Northumberland

  Captain Nurse

  O

  Edward Ogle, Esq.

  James Ogle, Esq.

  Robert Oliver, Esq.

  P

  Mr. D. Parker,

  Mr. W. Parker,

  Mr. Richard Packer, jun.

  Mr. Parsons, 6 copies

  Mr. James Pearse

  Mr. J. Pearson

  J. Penn, Esq.

  George Peters, Esq.

  Mr. W. Phillips,

  J. Philips, Esq.

  Mrs. Pickard

  Mr. Charles Pilgrim

  The Hon. George Pitt, M. P.

  Mr. Thomas Pooley

  Patrick Power, Esq.

  Mr. Michael Power

  Joseph Pratt, Esq.

  Q

  Robert Quarme, Esq.

  R

  The Right Hon. Lord Rawdon

  The Right Hon. Lord Rivers, 2 copies

  Lieutenant General Rainsford

  Reverend James Ramsay, 3 copies

  Mr. S. Remnant, jun.

  Mr. William Richards, 2 copies

  Mr. J. C. Robarts

  Mr. James Roberts

  Dr. Robinson

  Mr. Robinson

  Mr. C. Robinson

  George Rose, Esq. M. P.

  Mr. W. Ross

  Mr. William Rouse

  Mr. Walter Row

  S

  His Grace the Duke of St. Albans

  Her Grace the Duchess of St. Albans

  The Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of St. David’s

  The Right Hon. Earl Stanhope, 3 copies

  The Right Hon. the Earl of Scarbrough

  William, the Son of Ignatius Sancho

  Mrs. Mary Ann Sandiford

  Mr. William Sawyer

  Mr. Thomas Seddon

  W. Seward, Esq.

  Reverend Mr. Thomas Scott

  Granville Sharp, Esq. 2 copies

  Captain Sidney Smith, of the Royal Navy

  Colonel Simcoe

  Mr. John Simco

  General Smith

  John Smith, Esq.

  Mr. George Smith

  Mr. William Smith

  Reverend Mr. Southgate

  Mr. William Starkey

  Thomas Steel, Esq. M. P.

  Mr. Staples Steare

  Mr. Joseph Stewardson

  Mr. Henry Stone, jun. 2 copies

  John Symmons, Esq.

  T

  Henry Thornton, Esq. M. P.

  Mr. Alexander Thomson, M. D.

  Reverend John Till

  Mr. Samuel Townly

  Mr. Daniel Trinder

  Reverend Mr. C. La Trobe

  Clement Tudway, Esq.

  Mrs. Twisden

  U

  Mr. M. Underwood

  V

  Mr. John Vaughan

  Mrs. Vendt

  W

  The Right Hon. Earl of Warnick

  The Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of Worcester

  The Hon. William Windham, Esq. M. P.

  Mr. C. B. Wadstrom

  Mr. George Walne

  Reverend Mr. Ward

  Mr. S. Warren

  Mr. J. Waugh

  Josiah Wedgwood, Esq.

  Reverend Mr. John Wesley

  Mr. J. Wheble

  Samuel Whitbread, Esq. M. P.

  Reverend Thomas Wigzell

  Mr. W. Wilson

  Reverend Mr. Wills

  Mr. Thomas Wimsett

  Mr. William Winchester

  John Wollaston, Esq.

  Mr. Charles Wood

  Mr. Joseph Woods

  Mr. John Wood

  J. Wright, Esq.

  Y

  Mr. Thomas Young

  Mr. Samuel Yockney

  CONTENTS

  CHAP. I.

  The author’s account of his country, their manners and customs, &c.

  CHAP. II.

  The author’s birth and parentage—His being kidnapped with his sister—Horrors of a slave ship

  CHAP. III.

  The author is carried to Virginia—Arrives in England— His wonder at a fall of snow

  CHAP. IV.

  A particular account of the celebrated engagement between Admiral Boscawen and Monsieur Le Clue

  CHAP. V.

  Various interesting instances of oppression, cruelty, and extortion

  CHAP. VI.

  Favourable change in the author’s situation—He commences merchant with threepence

  CHAP. VII.

  The author’s disgust at the West Indies—Forms schemes to obtain his freedom

  CHAP. VIII.

  Three remarkable dreams—The author is shipwrecked on the Bahama-bank

  CHAP. IX.

  The author arrives at Martinico—Meets with new difficulties, and sails for England

  CHAP. X.

  Some account of the manner of the author’s conversion to the faith of Jesus Christ

  CHAP. XI.

  Picking up eleven miserable men at sea in returning to England

  CHAP. XII.

  Different transactions of the author’s life—Petition to the Queen—Conclusion

  THE LIFE, &c.

  CHAPTER I.

  The author’s account of his country, and their manners and customs—Administration of justice—Embrenche—Marriage ceremony, and public entertainments—Mode of living— Dress—Manufactures Buildings—Commerce —Agriculture —War and religion—Superstition of the natives—Funeral ceremonies of the priests or magicians—Curious mode of discovering poison—Some hints concerning the origin of the author’s countrymen, with the opinions of different writers on that subject.

  I BELIEVE it is difficult for those who publish their own memoirs to escape the imputation of vanity; nor is this the only disadvantage under which they labour: it is also their misfortune, that what is uncommon is rarely, if ever, believed, and what is obvious we are apt to turn from with disgust, and to charge the writer with impertinence. People generally think those memoirs only worthy to be
read or remembered which abound in great or striking events, those, in short, which in a high degree excite either admiration or pity: all others they consign to contempt and oblivion. It is therefore, I confess, not a little hazardous in a private and obscure individual, and a stranger too, thus to solicit the indulgent attention of the public; especially when I own I offer here the history of neither a saint, a hero, nor a tyrant. I believe there are few events in my life, which have not happened to many: it is true the incidents of it are numerous; and, did I consider myself an European, I might say my sufferings were great: but when I compare my lot with that of most of my countrymen, I regard myself as a particular favourite of Heaven, and acknowledge the mercies of Providence in every occurrence of my life. If then the following narrative does not appear sufficiently interesting to engage general attention, let my motive be some excuse for its publication. I am not so foolishly vain as to expect from it either immortality or literary reputation. If it affords any satisfaction to my numerous friends, at whose request it has been written, or in the smallest degree promotes the interests of humanity, the ends for which it was undertaken will be fully attained, and every wish of my heart gratified. Let it therefore be remembered, that, in wishing to avoid censure, I do not aspire to praise.

  That part of Africa, known by the name of Guinea, to which the trade for slaves is carried on, extends along the coast above 3400 miles, from the Senegal to Angola, and includes a variety of kingdoms. Of these the most considerable is the kingdom of Benen, both as to extent and wealth, the richness and cultivation of the soil, the power of its king, and the number and warlike disposition of the inhabitants. It is situated nearly under the line, and extends along the coast about 170 miles, but runs back into the interior part of Africa to a distance hitherto I believe unexplored by any traveller; and seems only terminated at length by the empire of Abyssinia, near 1500 miles from its beginning. This kingdom is divided into many provinces or districts: in one of the most remote and fertile of which, called Eboe, I was born, in the year 1745, in a charming fruitful vale, named Essaka. The distance of this province from the capital of Benin and the sea coast must be very considerable; for I had never heard of white men or Europeans, nor of the sea: and our subjection to the king of Benin was little more than nominal; for every transaction of the government, as far as my slender observation extended, was conducted by the chiefs or elders of the place. The manners and government of a people who have little commerce with other countries are generally very simple; and the history of what passes in one family or village may serve as a specimen of a nation. My father was one of those elders or chiefs I have spoken of, and was styled Embrenche; a term, as I remember, importing the highest distinction, and signifying in our language a mark of grandeur. This mark is conferred on the person entitled to it, by cutting the skin across at the top of the forehead, and drawing it down to the eye-brows; and while it is in this situation applying a warm hand, and rubbing it until it shrinks up into a thick weal across the lower part of the forehead. Most of the judges and senators were thus marked; my father had long born it: I had seen it conferred on one of my brothers, and I was also destined to receive it by my parents. Those Embrence, or chief men, decided disputes and punished crimes; for which purpose they always assembled together. The proceedings were generally short; and in most cases the law of retaliation prevailed. I remember a man was brought before my father, and the other judges, for kidnapping a boy; and, although he was the son of a chief or senator, he was condemned to make recompense by a man or woman slave. Adultery, however, was sometimes punished with slavery or death; a punishment which I believe is inflicted on it throughout most of the nations of Africa*: so sacred among them is the honour of the marriage bed, and so jealous are they of the fidelity of their wives. Of this I recollect an instance:—a woman was convicted before the judges of adultery, and delivered over, as the custom was, to her husband to be punished. Accordingly he determined to put her to death: but it being found, just before her execution, that she had an infant at her breast; and no woman being prevailed on to perform the part of a nurse, she was spared on account of the child. The men, however, do not preserve the same constancy to their wives, which they expect from them; for they indulge in a plurality, though seldom in more than two. Their mode of marriage is thus:— both parties are usually betrothed when young by their parents, (though I have known the males to betroth themselves). On this occasion a feast is prepared, and the bride and bridegroom stand up in the midst of all their friends, who are assembled for the purpose, while he declares she is thenceforth to be looked upon as his wife, and that no other person is to pay any addresses to her. This is also immediately proclaimed in the vicinity, on which the bride retires from the assembly. Some time after she is brought home to her husband, and then another feast is made, to which the relations of both parties are invited: her parents then deliver her to the bridegroom, accompanied with a number of blessings, and at the same time they tie round her waist a cotton string of the thickness of a goose-quill, which none but married women are permitted to wear: she is now considered as completely his wife; and at this time the dowry is given to the new married pair, which generally consists of portions of land, slaves, and cattle, household goods, and implements of husbandry. These are offered by the friends of both parties; besides which the parents of the bridegroom present gifts to those of the bride, whose property she is looked upon before marriage; but after it she is esteemed the sole property of her husband. The ceremony being now ended the festival begins, which is celebrated with bonefires, and loud acclamations of joy, accompanied with music and dancing.

 

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