The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African E-Book

Olaudah Equiano

• Herausgeber: Olaudah Equiano
• Kategorie: Sachliteratur, Reportagen, Biografien
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2014

Beschreibung

The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African, first published in 1789, is the autobiography of Olaudah Equiano. The book describes Equiano's time spent in slavery, and documents his attempts at becoming an independent man through his study of the Bible, and his eventual conversion to Christianity.Olaudah Equiano (1745–1797) also known as Gustavus Vassa, was a prominent African involved in the British movement for the abolition of the slave trade. He was enslaved as a child, purchased his freedom, and worked as an author, merchant, and explorer in South America, the Caribbean, the Arctic, the American colonies, and the United Kingdom, where he settled by 1792. His autobiography, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, depicts the horrors of slavery and influenced the enactment of the Slave Trade Act of 1807.

Leseprobe

The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Or Gustavus Vassa, the African

by Olaudah Equiano

THE

INTERESTING NARRATIVE

OF

THE LIFE

OF

OLAUDAH EQUIANO,

OR

GUSTAVUS VASSA,

THE AFRICAN.

WRITTEN BY HIMSELF. 

Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust and not beafraid, for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and mysong; he also is become my salvation.And in that shall ye say, Praise the Lord, call upon hisname, declare his doings among the people. Isaiah xii. 2, 4. 

LONDON:Printed for and sold by the Author, No. 10, Union-Street,MiddlesexHospital

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.

To the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, andthe Commons of the Parliamentof 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.AThe Right Hon. the Earl of AilesburyAdmiral AffleckMr. William Abington, 2 copiesMr. John AbrahamJames Adair, Esq.Reverend Mr. AldridgeMr. John AlmonMrs. ArnotMr. Joseph ArmitageMr. Joseph AshpinshawMr. Samuel AtkinsMr. John AtwoodMr. Thomas AtwoodMr. AshwellJ.C. Ashworth, Esq.BHis Grace the Duke of BedfordHer Grace the Duchess of BuccleughThe Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of BangorThe Right Hon. Lord BelgraveThe Rev. Doctor BakerMrs. BakerMatthew Baillie, M.D.Mrs. BaillieMiss BaillieMiss J. BaillieDavid Barclay, Esq.Mr. Robert BarrettMr. William BarrettMr. John BarnesMr. John BasnettMr. BatemanMrs. Baynes, 2 copiesMr. Thomas BellamyMr. J. BenjafieldMr. William BennettMr. BensleyMr. Samuel BensonMrs. BentonReverend Mr. BentleyMr. Thomas BentlySir John Berney, Bart.Alexander Blair, Esq.James Bocock, Esq.Mrs. BondMiss BondMrs. BorckhardtMrs. E. Bouverie—— Brand, Esq.Mr. Martin BranderF.J. Brown, Esq. M.P. 2 copiesW. Buttall, Esq.Mr. BuxtonMr. R.L.B.Mr. Thomas Burton, 6 copiesMr. W. ButtonCThe Right Hon. Lord CathcartThe Right Hon. H.S. ConwayLady Almiria CarpenterJames Carr, Esq.Charles Carter, Esq.Mr. James ChalmersCaptain John Clarkson, of the Royal NavyThe Rev. Mr. Thomas Clarkson, 2 copiesMr. R. ClayMr. William CloutMr. George ClubMr. John CobbMiss CalwellMr. Thomas CooperRichard Cosway, Esq.Mr. James CoxeMr. J.C.Mr. CroucherMr. CruickshanksOttobah Cugoano, or John StewartDThe Right Hon. the Earl of DartmouthThe Right Hon. the Earl of DerbySir William Dolben, Bart.The Reverend C.E. De CoetlogonJohn Delamain, Esq.Mrs. DelamainMr. DavisMr. William DentonMr. T. DickieMr. William DicksonMr. Charles Duly, 2 copiesAndrew Drummond, Esq.Mr. George DurantEThe Right Hon. the Earl of EssexThe Right Hon. the Countess of EssexSir Gilbert Elliot, Bart. 2 copiesLady Ann ErskineG. Noel Edwards, Esq. M.P. 2 copiesMr. Durs EggMr. Ebenezer EvansThe Reverend Mr. John EyreMr. William EyreFMr. George FallowdownMr. John FellF.W. Foster, Esq.The Reverend Mr. FosterMr. J. FrithW. Fuller, Esq.GThe Right Hon. the Earl of GainsboroughThe Right Hon. the Earl of GrosvenorThe Right Hon. Viscount GallwayThe Right Hon. Viscountess Gallway—— Gardner, Esq.Mrs. GarrickMr. John GatesMr. Samuel GearSir Philip Gibbes, Bart. 6 copiesMiss GibbesMr. Edward GilbertMr. Jonathan GillettW.P. Gilliess, Esq.Mrs. GordonMr. GrangeMr. William GrantMr. John GrantMr. R. GreeningS. GriffithsJohn Grove, Esq.Mrs. GuerinReverend Mr. GwinepHThe Right Hon. the Earl of HopetounThe Right Hon. Lord HawkeRight Hon. Dowager Countess of HuntingdonThomas Hall, Esq.Mr. HaleyHugh Josiah Hansard, Esq.Mr. Moses HartMrs. HawkinsMr. HaysomMr. HearneMr. William HepburnMr. J. HibbertMr. Jacob HigmanSir Richard Hill, Bart.Reverend Rowland HillMiss HillCaptain John Hills, Royal NavyEdmund Hill, Esq.The Reverend Mr. Edward HoareWilliam Hodges, Esq.Reverend Mr. John Holmes, 3 copiesMr. Martin HopkinsMr. Thomas HowellMr. R. HuntleyMr. J. HuntMr. Philip Hurlock, jun.Mr. HutsonJMr. T.W.J. Esq.Mr. James JacksonMr. John JacksonReverend Mr. JamesMrs. Anne JenningsMr. JohnsonMrs. JohnsonMr. William JonesThomas Irving, Esq. 2 copiesMr. William JustinsKThe Right Hon. Lord KinnairdWilliam Kendall, Esq.Mr. William KetlandMr. Edward KingMr. Thomas KingstonReverend Dr. KippisMr. William KitchenerMr. John KnightLThe Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of LondonMr. John LaisneMr. Lackington, 6 copiesMr. John LambBennet Langton, Esq.Mr. S. LeeMr. Walter LewisMr. J. LewisMr. J. LindseyMr. T. LitchfieldEdward Loveden Loveden, Esq. M.P.Charles Lloyd, Esq.Mr. William LloydMr. J.B. LucasMr. James LukenHenry Lyte, Esq.Mrs. LyonMHis Grace the Duke of MarlboroughHis Grace the Duke of MontagueThe Right Hon. Lord MulgraveSir Herbert Mackworth, Bart.Sir Charles Middleton, Bart.Lady MiddletonMr. Thomas MacklaneMr. George MarkettJames Martin, Esq. M.P.Master Martin, Hayes-Grove, KentMr. William MasseyMr. Joseph MassinghamJohn McIntosh, Esq.Paul Le Mesurier, Esq. M.P.Mr. James MewburnMr. N. Middleton,T. Mitchell, Esq.Mrs. Montague, 2 copiesMiss Hannah MoreMr. George MorrisonThomas Morris, Esq.Miss MorrisMorris Morgann, Esq.NHis Grace the Duke of NorthumberlandCaptain NurseOEdward Ogle, Esq.James Ogle, Esq.Robert Oliver, Esq.PMr. D. Parker,Mr. W. Parker,Mr. Richard Packer, jun.Mr. Parsons, 6 copiesMr. James PearseMr. J. PearsonJ. Penn, Esq.George Peters, Esq.Mr. W. Phillips,J. Philips, Esq.Mrs. PickardMr. Charles PilgrimThe Hon. George Pitt, M.P.Mr. Thomas PooleyPatrick Power, Esq.Mr. Michael PowerJoseph Pratt, Esq.QRobert Quarme, Esq.RThe Right Hon. Lord RawdonThe Right Hon. Lord Rivers, 2 copiesLieutenant General RainsfordReverend James Ramsay, 3 copiesMr. S. Remnant, jun.Mr. William Richards, 2 copiesMr. J.C. RobartsMr. James RobertsDr. RobinsonMr. RobinsonMr. C. RobinsonGeorge Rose, Esq. M.P.Mr. W. RossMr. William RouseMr. Walter RowSHis Grace the Duke of St. AlbansHer Grace the Duchess of St. AlbansThe Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of St. David'sThe Right Hon. Earl Stanhope, 3 copiesThe Right Hon. the Earl of ScarbroughWilliam, the Son of Ignatius SanchoMrs. Mary Ann SandifordMr. William SawyerMr. Thomas SeddonW. Seward, Esq.Reverend Mr. Thomas ScottGranville Sharp, Esq. 2 copiesCaptain Sidney Smith, of the Royal NavyColonel SimcoeMr. John SimcoGeneral SmithJohn Smith, Esq.Mr. George SmithMr. William SmithReverend Mr. SouthgateMr. William StarkeyThomas Steel, Esq. M.P.Mr. Staples SteareMr. Joseph StewardsonMr. Henry Stone, jun. 2 copiesJohn Symmons, Esq.THenry Thornton, Esq. M.P.Mr. Alexander Thomson, M.D.Reverend John TillMr. Samuel TownlyMr. Daniel TrinderReverend Mr. C. La TrobeClement Tudway, Esq.Mrs. TwisdenUMr. M. UnderwoodVMr. John VaughanMrs. VendtWThe Right Hon. Earl of WarnickThe Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of WorcesterThe Hon. William Windham, Esq. M.P.Mr. C.B. WadstromMr. George WalneReverend Mr. WardMr. S. WarrenMr. J. WaughJosiah Wedgwood, Esq.Reverend Mr. John WesleyMr. J. WhebleSamuel Whitbread, Esq. M.P.Reverend Thomas WigzellMr. W. WilsonReverend Mr. WillsMr. Thomas WimsettMr. William WinchesterJohn Wollaston, Esq.Mr. Charles WoodMr. Joseph WoodsMr. John WoodJ. Wright, Esq.YMr. Thomas YoungMr. Samuel Yockney

CONTENTS

·         VOLUME I

·          

·         CHAP. I.

·         The author's account of his country, their manners andcustoms, &c.   

·         CHAP. II.

·         The author's birth and parentage—His being kidnappedwith his sister—Horrors of a slave ship   

·         CHAP. III.

·         The author is carried to Virginia—Arrives in England—Hiswonder at a fall of snow   

·         CHAP. IV.

·         A particular account of the celebrated engagementbetween Admiral Boscawen and Monsieur Le Clue   

·         CHAP. V.

·         Various interesting instances of oppression, cruelty, andextortion   

·         CHAP. VI.

·         Favourable change in the author's situation—Hecommences merchant with threepence   

·         VOLUME II

·         CHAP. VII.

·         The author's disgust at the West Indies—Formsschemes to obtain his freedom   

·         CHAP. VIII.

·         Three remarkable dreams—The author is shipwreckedon the Bahama-bank   

·         CHAP. IX

·         The author arrives at Martinico—Meets with newdifficulties, and sails for England   

·         CHAP. X.

·         Some account of the manner of the author's conversion tothe faith of Jesus Christ   

·         CHAP. XI.

·         Picking up eleven miserable men at sea in returning toEngland   

·         CHAP. XII.

·         Different transactions of the author's life—Petition to theQueen—Conclusion   

THE LIFE, &c.

VOLUME I

CHAP. 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[A]: 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.

We are almost a nation of dancers, musicians, and poets. Thus every great event, such as a triumphant return from battle, or other cause of public rejoicing is celebrated in public dances, which are accompanied with songs and music suited to the occasion. The assembly is separated into four divisions, which dance either apart or in succession, and each with a character peculiar to itself. The first division contains the married men, who in their dances frequently exhibit feats of arms, and the representation of a battle. To these succeed the married women, who dance in the second division. The young men occupy the third; and the maidens the fourth. Each represents some interesting scene of real life, such as a great achievement, domestic employment, a pathetic story, or some rural sport; and as the subject is generally founded on some recent event, it is therefore ever new. This gives our dances a spirit and variety which I have scarcely seen elsewhere[B]. We have many musical instruments, particularly drums of different kinds, a piece of music which resembles a guitar, and another much like a stickado. These last are chiefly used by betrothed virgins, who play on them on all grand festivals.

As our manners are simple, our luxuries are few. The dress of both sexes is nearly the same. It generally consists of a long piece of callico, or muslin, wrapped loosely round the body, somewhat in the form of a highland plaid. This is usually dyed blue, which is our favourite colour. It is extracted from a berry, and is brighter and richer than any I have seen in Europe. Besides this, our women of distinction wear golden ornaments; which they dispose with some profusion on their arms and legs. When our women are not employed with the men in tillage, their usual occupation is spinning and weaving cotton, which they afterwards dye, and make it into garments. They also manufacture earthen vessels, of which we have many kinds. Among the rest tobacco pipes, made after the same fashion, and used in the same manner, as those in Turkey[C].

Our manner of living is entirely plain; for as yet the natives are unacquainted with those refinements in cookery which debauch the taste: bullocks, goats, and poultry, supply the greatest part of their food. These constitute likewise the principal wealth of the country, and the chief articles of its commerce. The flesh is usually stewed in a pan; to make it savoury we sometimes use also pepper, and other spices, and we have salt made of wood ashes. Our vegetables are mostly plantains, eadas, yams, beans, and Indian corn. The head of the family usually eats alone; his wives and slaves have also their separate tables. Before we taste food we always wash our hands: indeed our cleanliness on all occasions is extreme; but on this it is an indispensable ceremony. After washing, libation is made, by pouring out a small portion of the food, in a certain place, for the spirits of departed relations, which the natives suppose to preside over their conduct, and guard them from evil. They are totally unacquainted with strong or spirituous liquours; and their principal beverage is palm wine. This is gotten from a tree of that name by tapping it at the top, and fastening a large gourd to it; and sometimes one tree will yield three or four gallons in a night. When just drawn it is of a most delicious sweetness; but in a few days it acquires a tartish and more spirituous flavour: though I never saw any one intoxicated by it. The same tree also produces nuts and oil. Our principal luxury is in perfumes; one sort of these is an odoriferous wood of delicious fragrance: the other a kind of earth; a small portion of which thrown into the fire diffuses a most powerful odour[D]. We beat this wood into powder, and mix it with palm oil; with which both men and women perfume themselves.