The Fate of Equiano Determined at Last
Author: Arthur Edgar E. Smith
Category: Arts and Entertainment
Republish this article manually
Republish articles from Arts and Entertainment category automatically
Towards mid May, 1763 Equiano was sunk in depression, all the time believing that Fate's blackest clouds were gathering over his head, and expecting that upon their bursting would mix him with the dead and when the ship on which he was engaged was about to sail for England, it was then Captain Doran sent for him ashore.
Equiano was frightened as to what was going to befall him now. But then Doran's messenger intimated him that his fate has been determined. With fluttering steps and trembling heart Equiano came and found with the captain one Mr. Robert King, a Quaker, and the first merchant there. The captain then told him that his former master, Pascal, had sent him there to be sold; but with an expressed desire for him to get Equiano the best master possible, as he told him he was a very deserving boy.
Doran then confirmed that he himself would endorse of Pascal's approval of Equiano's conduct. If he were to stay in the West Indies, he went on, he would have been glad to keep him for himself; but just that he could not venture to take him to London, fearing that if he should take him along with him there, he would desert him. Upon hearing this, Equiano burst out crying, and pleading to be taken to England with him. The Captain calmed him down, assuring him that he had secured him the very best master in the whole island, with whom he should be as content as if he were in England: " It is for that reason that I chose to let him have you, he is quite a good fellow. If otherwise I could have sold you for a great deal more money than what he offered."
"I agree with all what you have said about the young man here. I have heard much good reports about him and seeing him now I have no doubt that he is the good man assured me of. Let me go on to assure you and the young man here Olaudah Equiano that he would be taken good care off even beyond his last master's wish. Iive at Philadelphia. I am moving there with him now. There I will put him in school, and then engage him as a clerk as I had learnt that Equiano understood some of the rules of arithmetic."
This conversation relieved Equiano's mind a little. He thus left them considerably at ease than before he came to them.
Equiano took leave of all his shipmates the next day as the ship sailed off. He was at the waterside looking at her with a very wishful and aching heart following her with his eyes drowning in tears until she was totally out of sight. He was so much weighed down with grief that he could not hold up his head for many months. His grief was so intense that if it were not for his new master's kindness to him he believed he should have died.
Equiano soon started discovering that his master deserved the good recommendation given him by Pascal and Captain Doran for he possessed a most amiable disposition and temper, and was very charitable and humane. If any of his slaves behaved badly instead of beating or ill-treating them, he would quietly dispense with their services. This made them afraid of disobeying him; and as he treated his slaves better than any other person on the island, he was better and more faithfully served. Equiano thus endeavored to comport himself; and with fortitude, though moneyless, became determined to face whatever fate had decreed for him.
Mr. King whilst enquiring from him what he could do was at the same time assuring him that he did not mean to treat him as a common slave. Equiano then told him he knew something of seamanship, and could shave, hair dress pretty well, and refine wines. He added that he could write, and understood arithmetic tolerably well. When Equiano revealed that he did not know gauging; Mr. King detailed one of his clerks to teach him.
Mr. King who dealt in all types of merchandise kept up to six clerks to service this large business. He loaded many vessels in a year which were bound particularly to Philadelphia, where he was born, and where he was well-connected with a great mercantile house. He had many vessels of different sizes, which went about the island; and elsewhere collecting rum, sugar, and other goods. Equiano soon could manage those boats very well; and this, the first task that he was set to, in the sugar seasons became his constant employment.
Rowing the boat, and slaving at the oars, up to sixteen hours in the day; brought from ten to fifteen pence sterling per day for him to live on, which was considerably more than what was allowed other slaves working with him who belonged to other merchants on the island: They never had more than nine pence per day, and seldom more than six pence, from their masters, though they earned them three or four pisterines: through the common practice then in the West Indies for men who had no plantations themselves to purchase slaves, in order to let them out to planters and merchants at so much a piece by the day, and they gave very scanty allowance to their slaves for subsistence. Olaudah Equiano describes with much compassion the miserable conditions in which these exploited men were left:
'My master often gave their owners two and a half of these pieces per day, and fed the poor fellows as well, because he thought their owners did not feed them well enough to stand the work they did. The slaves liked this very much; and, as they knew my master was a man of compassionate feeling, they were always glad to work for him in preference to any other; some of whom, after they had been paid for these poor people's labors, would not give them their allotment. Many times have I even seen these unfortunate wretches beaten for asking for their pay; and often severely flogged by their owners if they did not bring them their daily or weekly money exactly to the time; though the poor creatures were obliged to wait on the gentlemen they had worked for sometimes for more than half the day before they could get their pay; and this generally on Sundays, when they wanted the time for themselves. In particular, I knew a countryman of mine who once did not bring the weekly money directly that was earned; and though he brought it the same day to his master, yet he was staked to the ground for his supposed negligence, and was about to receive a hundred lashes, but for a gentleman who begged him off fifty. This poor man was very industrious; and, by his frugality, had saved so much money working on shipboard, that he got a white man to buy him a boat, unknown to his master. Some time after this the governor wanted a boat to bring his sugar from different parts of the island. The Negro slave's boat was sent and, realizing it was a negro-man's boat, he seized it for himself, and would not pay the owner a farthing. The man then went to his master, and complained but the only satisfaction he received was to be damned very heartily by his master, who asked him how dared any of his negroes to have a boat. If the justly-merited ruin of the governor's fortune could be any gratification to the poor man he had thus robbed, he was not without consolation. Extortion and rapine are poor providers; and some time after this the governor died in the King's Bench in England, as I was told, in great poverty. The last war favored this poor negro-man, and he found some means to escape from his Christian master. He came to England; where I saw him several times. Such treatment often drives these miserable wretches to despair, and they run away from their masters at the hazard of their lives. Many of them, unable to get their well-earned pay and fearing to be flogged, as usual, if they return home without it, run away where they can for shelter, and a reward is often offered to bring them in dead or alive. My master used sometimes, in these cases, to agree with their owners, and to settle with them himself; and thereby he saved many of them a flogging.'
In 1765 King promised Equiano, that for forty pounds, the price he had paid for him, Equiano could buy his freedom. King taught him to read and write more fluently, educated him in the Christian faith, and allowed him to engage in his own profitable trading as well as on his master's behalf, enabling Equiano to come by the forty pounds to buy himself out of slavery honestly. In his early twenties, Equiano thus succeeded in buying his freedom.
Once, for a few days, Equiano was let out to fit a vessel. No food was given or allowed him. When he told his master of this he withdrew his services immediately. In many of the estates, on the different islands where he was being sent for rum or sugar, he would not succeed in having anything delivered to him, or any other Negro, thus causing his master to be sending a white man along with him. From being thus employed, whilst serving Mr. King, in the different estates on the island, he had the opportunity to see the dreadful treatment meted out to the poor black men. What he saw thus got him reconciled to his situation, and made him to bless God for the caring hands into which he had fallen.
He pleased his master in every job assigned to him. As a result there was scarcely any part of his business, or household affairs, in which he was not occasionally engaged. He often acted in the place of a clerk, in receiving and delivering cargoes to the ships, in tending stores, and delivering goods: and, besides this, shaved and dressed his master, took care of his horse; and often worked on board different vessels of his. He thus became very useful to his master; saving him, as he would later acknowledge, above a hundred pounds a year. His master thus often confessed that Equiano was of more advantage to him than any of his clerks; though their usual wages in the West Indies were from sixty to a hundred pounds a year.
His master had several offers by different gentlemen of one hundred guineas to purchase Equiano; but he always stated that he would not sell him. Equiano would thus gladly double his diligence and care, fearing the possibility of getting into the hands of unscrupulous masters who deny a valuable slave his basic needs. Many of them even criticized Mr. King for feeding his slaves well. But he would reply defiantly that he would always do it, because the slaves thereby looked better and did more work.
Reminded of a phrase he had learnt and was constantly telling his friends, that "life had lost its relish when liberty was gone" Equiano reminded himself of his goal of securing his freedom. To realize this, he soon began to trade small quantities of imported goods to raise money to purchase his freedom.
Every day brought Equiano nearer freedom. He was thus growing more impatient to proceed again to sea, to have an opportunity of getting a sum large enough to purchase himself out of bondage. In the beginning of 1766, his master bought another vessel, the Nancy, the largest he had ever seen. She was partly laden, and ready to proceed to Philadelphia. Their Captain, who had his choice of three, chose theirs to their greatest happiness for it was the largest vessel, giving them more room and more capacity to carry a larger quantity of goods. Accordingly, when they had delivered the old vessel, the Prudence, and completed the loading of the Nancy, having made nearly three hundred per cent, by four barrels of pork brought from Charlestown, the largest cargo he had ever carried, trusting to God's providence to prosper his undertaking, he sailed for Philadelphia, arrived safely there, sold their goods mostly to the Quakers. whom he preferred to deal with as they always appeared to be very honest as well as discreet, never attempting to impose themselves on him in anyway.
One Sunday morning whilst going to church, he passed a meeting-house which from the open door appeared to be packed with people. This excited his curiosity. He went in and was awe-struck to see a very tall woman standing amidst the crowd, speaking though audibly something which he could not understand. This shocking sight was of the kind of which he had never seen before. He stood staring about for some time, in wonder. As soon as it was over, he inquired about them and was informed they were called Quakers.
He came next to a church crowded with people. The church-yard was full likewise, with people mounted on ladders, looking in through the windows. This seemed a strange sight, as he had never seen churches, crowded in this way before. He therefore asked what was amiss and was told that the Rev. Mr. George Whitfield was preaching. He had often heard of him, so he used this as a golden opportunity to fulfill his long-felt desire of seeing and hearing from him. So he pressed in amidst the multitude. Now inside the church, he saw this pious man sweating profusely exhorting the people with the greatest fervor and earnestness. Equiano confessed that he was very much struck and impressed with this; for he had never seen divines exert themselves in this manner before.
After discharging their cargo and having been loaded again, they set sail for Montserrat. Equiano calculated that from his earlier success, that by selling his goods on arrival at Montserrat, he should have enough money to purchase his freedom. But, as soon as they arrived there, his master ordered them to go to St. Eustatia, where they should discharge their cargo, and then proceed to Georgia. Equiano was much disappointed; but thinking, as usual, it was of no use to contest fate, submitted.
After having discharged their cargo in St Eustasia they took in a live cargo of slaves. Here he sold his goods tolerably well; but, not being able to put all his money in this small island to as much advantage as in many other places, he only put out only part and brought away the remainder with him.
They sailed for Georgia, and he was glad when they got there, though did not have much liking for the place based previous experiences there from his last adventure in Savannah; but he longed to get back to Montserrat to procure his freedom, which he expected to purchase on his return.
Olaudah Equiano and his master after a bitter disappointment, set sail once more for Montserrat, and arrived there safe; but much infuriated.
Having unladen the vessel, and sold his goods, and now in possession of about forty-seven pounds, Equiano consulted the Captain, on how he should proceed in offering his master the money so as to secure his freedom. The Captain advised him to come on a morning, when he would be at breakfast with him.
Accordingly, on that morning Equiano arrived, and met the Captain there, as arranged. He made his obeisance to him and with the money in hand, and filled with much trepidation in his heart, he prayed for him to remain faithful and committed to his word and undertaking to give him his freedom as soon as he could purchase it. His master's initial response on his arrival that day shocked him; he began to recoil: and Equiano's heart that instant sunk within him.
'What,' he said, 'give you your freedom? Why, where did you get the money? Have you got forty pounds sterling?'
'Yes, sir,' Equiano answered with trembling legs.
'How did you get it?' he pursued him further.
The Captain then said he knew Equiano got the money very honestly and with much industry, and that he was particularly careful. On which his master replied, that Equiano got money much faster than him; and regretted making him the promise saying that if he had known that he should have got money so soon he would not have made that undertaking.
'Come, come,' said the Captain, clapping Equiano's master on the back, 'Come, Robert, I think you must let him have his freedom; you have laid your money out very well; you have received good interest for it all this time, and here is now the principal at last. I know Gustavus has earned you more than an hundred a-year, and he will still save you money, as he will not leave you:-Come, Robert, take the money.'
It was then that he said, he would not be the worse for it in keeping his promise; and, taking the money. he asked Equiano to go to the Secretary at the Registrar's Office, and get his manumission drawn up. These words were like a voice from heaven to him. In an instant all his trepidation turned into unutterable bliss; and he most reverently bowed himself with gratitude, unable to express his feelings, but by the overflowing of his eyes with tears of joy, while his true and worthy friend, the Captain, congratulated both of them with a peculiar degree of heartfelt pleasure. As soon as the first transports of his joy were over, and he had thanked his worthy friends most heartily, he rose with a heart full of affection and reverence, and left the room, in order to go to the Registrar's Office as instructed.
As I was leaving the house I called to mind the words of the Psalmist, in the 126th Psalm, and like him, 'I glorified God in my heart, in whom I trusted.' These words had been impressed on my mind from the very day I was forced from Deptford to the present hour, and I now saw them, as I thought, fulfilled and verified. My imagination was all rapture as I flew to the Registar's Office, and, in this respect, like the apostle Peter (whose deliverance from prison was so sudden and extraordinary, that he thought he was in a vision) I could scarcely 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 Equiano got to the office of the Registrar and acquainted him with the purpose of his visit, he congratulated him on his achievement, promising him he would draw up his manumission for half price, which was a guinea. Equiano then thanked him for his kindness; and, having received the document from him paid him. With the vital document safely and proudly held in his hand, he hastened to his master to get him to sign it, so that he would be fully released. His master, as Equiano wished, signed the documents releasing him from slavery that very same day; "so that, before night, I, who had been a slave in the morning, trembling at the will of another had 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 many of the sable race, particularly the aged, to whom my heart had ever been attached with reverence"
Something peculiarly suppressive, dehumanizing and materialistic could be seen right through this document, expressing the absolute power and dominion one man claims over his fellow, almost as would possess a horse, a house and land. Relishing the glory of his newly found freedom as reproduced below:
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 above said 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, Registrar.
Equiano relishing the glory of his newly found freedom got immediately styled by a new appellation, which to him was "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 before then stood aloof now, began to relax and appear less coy; towards him.
Having secured his freedom, he describes his feelings in rapturous terms: ". . .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 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 has 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. . "
But by then Equiano's heart was already firmly fixed on London, where he hoped to be before long. His worthy captain and his owner, his former master, finding that Equiano's mind was set towards London, said to him, 'We hope you won't leave us, but that you will still be with the vessels.' Here he was overwhelmed by a feeling of gratitude as his mind kept struggling between two extremes -inclination and duty.
However, notwithstanding his wish to be in London, he obediently bowed down to the desires of his benefactors that he would go in the vessel, and not leave them. Equiano thus got enlisted on board as an able-bodied sailor, at thirty-six shillings per month, besides whatever other perquisites he could make.
His intention was to make a voyage or two, entirely to please his honored patrons; but with a firm determination that the following year, God willing, he would see Old England once more, and surprise his old master, Capt. Pascal, who was hourly in his 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."
These kinds of reveries often occupied Equiano's mind. Now, being as free as he was in his original free African state, after having got all things ready for the voyage, he embarked on board the Nancy. In this state of serenity he sailed for St. Eustatia; and, having smooth seas and calm weather, soon arrived there. They proceeded next to Savannah in Georgia in August 1766 where they traveled by boat through the alligator infested river before setting sail for Montserrat.
Resource Box:
Keywords: fate, determination. long struggle, seagoing, slavery, black literature, saled, bought, london, montserrat, clerk
View Count: 609
Date Submitted: 6/17/2008
Most recent articles in
Arts and Entertainment category:
Other related articles in
Arts and Entertainment category: