The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Or Gustavus Vassa, The African | Page 3

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,