The Interesting Narrative of Olaudah Equiano

The Interesting Narrative of Olaudah Equiano

_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

_The author's birth and parentage--His being kidnapped with

his sister--Their separation--Surprise at meeting again--Are

finally separated--Account of the different places and

incidents the author met with till his arrival on the

coast--The effect the sight of a slave ship had on him--He

sails for the West Indies--Horrors of a slave ship--Arrives

at Barbadoes, where the cargo is sold and dispersed._

I hope the reader will not think I have trespassed on his

patience in introducing myself to him with some account of the manners

and customs of my country. They had been implanted in me with great

care, and made an impression on my mind, which time could not erase,

and which all the adversity and variety of fortune I have since

experienced served only to rivet and record; for, whether the love of

one's country be real or imaginary, or a lesson of reason, or an

instinct of nature, I still look back with pleasure on the first

scenes of my life, though that pleasure has been for the most part

mingled with sorrow.

I have already acquainted the reader with the time and place of my

birth. My father, besides many slaves, had a numerous family, of which

seven lived to grow up, including myself and a sister, who was the

only daughter. As I was the youngest of the sons, I became, of course,

the greatest favourite with my mother, and was always with her; and

she used to take particular pains to form my mind. I was trained up

from my earliest years in the art of war; my daily exercise was

shooting and throwing javelins; and my mother adorned me with emblems,

after the manner of our greatest warriors. In this way I grew up till

I was turned the age of eleven, when an end was put to my happiness in

the following manner:--Generally when the grown people in the

neighbourhood were gone far in the fields to labour, the children

assembled together in some of the neighbours' premises to play; and

commonly some of us used to get up a tree to look out for any

assailant, or kidnapper, that might come upon us; for they sometimes

took those opportunities of our parents' absence to attack and carry

off as many as they could seize. One day, as I was watching at the top

of a tree in our yard, I saw one of those people come into the yard of

our next neighbour but one, to kidnap, there being many stout young

people in it. Immediately on this I gave the alarm of the rogue, and

he was surrounded by the stoutest of them, who entangled him with

cords, so that he could not escape till some of the grown people came

and secured him. But alas! ere long it was my fate to be thus

attacked, and to be carried off, when none of the grown people were

nigh. One day, when all our people were gone out to their works as

usual, and only I and my dear sister were left to mind the house, two

men and a woman got over our walls, and in a moment seized us both,

and, without giving us time to cry out, or make resistance, they

stopped our mouths, and ran off with us into the nearest wood. Here

they tied our hands, and continued to carry us as far as they could,

till night came on, when we reached a small house, where the robbers

halted for refreshment, and spent the night. We were then unbound, but

were unable to take any food; and, being quite overpowered by fatigue

and grief, our only relief was some sleep, which allayed our

misfortune for a short time. The next morning we left the house, and

continued travelling all the day. For a long time we had kept the