The interesting narrative of the life of Olaudah Equiano: or Gustavus Vassa, the African.
By
Olaudah Equiano
Transcription, correction, editorial commentary, and markup by Staff and Research Assistants at The University of Virginia, Sara
Brunstetter, John
O'Brien, Austin
Benson
* See Benezet's "Account of Guinea" throughout. [Equiano's note]
* When I was in Smyrna I have frequently seen the Greeks dance after this manner. [Equiano's note]
* The bowl is earthen, curiously figured, to which a long reed is fixed as a tube. This tube is sometimes so long as to be borne by one, and fre quently out of grandeur, by two boys. {Equiano's note]
* When I was in smyrna I saw the same kind of earth, and brought some of it with me to England; it resembles musk in strength, but is more delicious in scent, and is not unlike the smell of a rose. [Equiano's note.]
* See Benezet's Account of Africa throughout. [Equiano's note.]
impulseSee also Leiut. Matthew's Voyage, p. 123. [Equiano's note] Equiano is referring to John Matthews, A Voyage to the River Sierra-Leone (London: B. White and Son; and J. Sewell, 1788).poisoning An instance of this kind happened at Montserrat in the West Indies in the year 1763. I then belonged to the Charming Sally, Capt. Doran.—The chief mate, Mr. Mansfield, and some of the crew being one day on shore, were present at the burying of a poisoned negro girl. Though they had often heard of the circumstance of the running in such cases, and had even seen it, they imagined it to be a trick of the corpse-bearers. The mate therefore desired two of the sailors to take up the coffin, and carry it to the grave. The sailors, who were all of the same opinion, readily obeyed; but they had scarcely raised it to their shoulders, before they began to run furiously about, quite unable to direct themselves, till, at last, without intention, they came to the hut of him who had poisoned the girl. The coffin then immediately fell from their shoulders against the hut, and damaged part of the wall. The owner of the hut was taken into custody on this, and confessed the poisoning.— I give this story as it was related by the mate and crew on their return to the ship. The credit which is due to it I leave with the reader. [Equiano's note]theory* Page 178 to 216. [Equiano's note]Mitchel† Philos. Trans. No. 476, Sect. 4, cited by Mr Clarkson, p. 205. [Equiano's note] instance‡ Same page. [Equiano's note]earth* Acts xvii. 26. [Equiano's note]moles*He had drowned himself in endeavouring to desert. [Equiano's note] "Moles" are large stone piers or wharfs.Bayonne* Among others whom we brought from Bayonne, were two gentlemen, who had been in the West Indies, where they sold slaves; and they confessed they had made at one time a false bill of sale, and sold two Portuguese white men among a lot of slaves. [Equiano's note]which† Some people have it, that sometimes shortly before persons die, their ward has been seen; that is, some spirit exactly in their likeness, though they are themselves at other places at the same time. One day while we were at Bayonne, Mr. Mondle saw one of our men, as he thought, in the gun-room; and a little after, coming on the quarter-deck, he spoke of some circumstances of this man to some of the officers. They told him that the man was then out of the ship, in one of the boats with the Lieutenant: but Mr. Mondle would not believe it, and we searched the ship, when he found the man was actually out of her; and when the boat returned some time afterwards, we found the man had been drowned at the very time Mr. Mondle thought he saw him. [Equiano's note] *Thus was I sacrificed to the envy and resentment of this woman for knowing that the lady whom she had succeeded in my master's good graces designed to take me into her service; which, had I once got on shore, she would not have been able to prevent. She felt her pride alarmed at the superiority of her rival in being attended by a black servant: it was not less to prevent this than to be revenged on me, that she caused the captain to treat me thus cruelly. [Equiano's note.]more‡ "The Dying Negro," a poem originally published in 1773. Perhaps it may not be deemed impertinent here to add, that this elegant and pathetic little poem was occasioned, as appears by the advertisement prefixed to it, by the following incident. "A black, who, a few days before had ran away from his master, and got himself christened, with intent to marry a white woman his fellow-servant, being taken and sent on board a ship in the Thames, took an opportunity of shooting himself through the head." [Equiano's note] Equiano is quoting (imperfectly) from "The Dying Negro, A Poem", by Thomas Day and John Bicknell; as he notes, the poem was first published in 1773, and widely reprinted afterwards.pisterinesThese pisterines are of the value of a shilling. [Equiano's note.]one* Mr. Durbury, and many others, Montserrat. [Equiano's note]gentlemanSir Philip Gibbes, Baronet, Barbadoes. [Equiano's note.}years* Benezet's Account of Guinea, p. 16. [Equiano's note]. Anthony Benezet's Some Historical Account of Guinea,first published in Philadelphia in 1771, was a widely-known and much reprinted text in this period.elijahActs xii. 9. [Equiano's note]spirit* John xvi. 13, 14. &c. [Equiano's note]alone* Act. iv. 12. [Equiano's Note]triumph* See the Public Advertiser, July 14, 1787. [Equiano's Note]* At the request of some of my most particular friends, I take the liberty of inserting it here. [Equiano's note]persons* Granville Sharp, Esq the Reverend Thomas Clarkson; the Reverend James Ramsay; our approved friends, men of virtue, are an honour to their country, ornamental to human nature, happy in themselves, and benefactors to mankind! [Equiano's note]subscribersEquiano published the book by subscription, subsidizing the printing of the book by soliciting payment up front from people who would then receive their copy of the book (or copies; some people ordered multiple copies) when it was published. This was a shrewd move on Equiano's part, as it enabled him to retain copyright in his book, which meant that he received all of the profits, rather than, as was more typical in the period, receiving a lump sum in advance for his copyright. At the same time, the subscribers were able to associate themselves with the abolitionist cause; becoming a subscriber, and having your name published in this list, was like signing a petition in favor of ending the slave trade. The Interesting Narrative was a great success, going into nine editions in Equiano's lifetime. With each edition, the list of subscribers grew; the first edition had 321 subscribers, which grew to 804 in the ninth edition, published in 1794. Here we print the list of subscribers for the second edition, published in 1789.beninA prime area for the slave trade during this time due to its economic and military prowess. The upper hand in warfare was an important factor in the African slave trade because of the tradition in which African tribes would enslave other Africans after battles, viewing them as spoils of war.purpleThe best color to wear in Europe during this time was purple since the color was hard to extract and get a hold of. If one was to wear purple it was usually because they were royal.agricultureInteresting to note that they are living in an egalitarian culture when it comes to agriculture, the backbone to their existence.hardinessThe narrator appears to be proud that it is his land that is most commonly used for the slave trade due to his people's hardiness and work ethic.trophyGrisly account that does not parallel the thriving and forward thinking culture of the narrator's home that he described earlier.oblationOblation: (the act of making a religious offering; specifically capitalized : the act of offering the eucharistic elements to God.oblation2The act of making a religious offering; specifically capitalized : the act of offering the eucharistic elements to God (Merriam-Webster).jewsReligious laws require Jewish people to take part in ritual washing, including an immersion of the whole body (tevilah) and the pouring water over the hands (netilat yadayim). There is no specific correlation or proof that this contributed to higher hygiene levels among the Jewish population, however, so Equiano's statement is likely based on stereotypes of the time (Wikipedia).gillJohn Gill (1697-1771) was a prominent biblical scholar of the time, know most commonly for his in-depth biblical analysis in An Exposition of the New Testament (3 vols., 1746–8), and Exposition of the Old Testament (6 vols., 1748–63)(Wikipedia).aferIn Dr. Gill's analysis of Genesis 25:4, he mentions an Aphra and Apher, not an Afer and Afra, which is a potential error on Equiano's part. Dr. Gill contextualizes them by saying that they are the sons of Abraham by Keturah...and all Africa, had their names, and that these accompanied Hercules into Lybia (Christianity.com).clarksonThomas Clarkson (1760-1846) was an English abolitionist that participated heavily in anti-slavery campaigns worldwide (Wikipedia).sableBlack or dark. Source: Oxford English Dictionary.pestilentialAccording to the Oxford English Dictionary, relating to epidemic disease.consternationCan be defined as amazement and terror, or dismay (Oxford English Dictionary).spartanThe Spartans, from ancient Greece, performed this same practice. The men stayed away from the women most of the time so they could focus on war and studying with their brothers. This practice helps the men stay sharp and not have either of the sexes be distracted by each other.barbarityThe use of the word "barbarity" is significant because during this time period, slaves were usually the ones that were dehumanized and deemed savages, whereas white people were considered civilized.sloopOxford English Dictionary refers to a "sloop" as a "small, one-masted fore-and-aft rigged vessel" or a "relatively small ship-of-war carrying guns on the upper deck only."bastinadoOxford English Dictionary refers to a "bastinado" as a "blow with a stick, usually on the soles of the feet."wherryA 15 to 20 foot long boat traditionally used to carry cargo and passengers in rivers and canals in England. Source: Oxford English Dictionary.trafficBy which Equiano means his trade history. Source: Oxford English Dictionary.neatIn good condition. Source: Oxford English Dictionary.obeisanceDeference or submission to a superior. Source: Oxford English Dictionary.manumissionFormal release from slavery or servitude. Source: Oxford English Dictionary.peterAllusion to Peter's escape from King Herrod's prison, when God sent an angel to miraculously save him. Source: King James Bible.elijahAllusion to story in 2 Kings when God mysteriously took Elijah and Enoch to Heaven before they died. Source: King James Bible.gaolA jail. Source: Oxford English Dictionary.secretTo keep secret, conceal, hide. Source: Oxford English DictionaryladingThe loading of a ship with its cargo. Source: Oxford English DictionarybullocksBull calves. Source: Oxford English Dictionary.tightWatertight. Source: Oxford English Dictionary.appellationA designation, name, or title given. Source: Oxford English Dictioonary.leebeamDesignating the side of a vessel or sideward direction: the side away from the wind. Source: Oxford English Dictionary.grampusThe popular name of various delphinoid cetaceans, having a high falcate dorsal fin and a blunt rounded head, and remarkable for the spouting and blowing which accompanies their movements. Source: Oxford English Dictioanry.madeiraThese islands traded heavily in sugar cane. Barbados had one of the largest sugar industries in the world during the eighteenth century. Source: Oxford English Dictionary and Wikipedia.nevisA small island in the Caribbean. Source: Wikipedia.sheernessSheerness is a port to the east of London. See link for photo http://www.weather-forecast.com/locations/Sheerness.aquafortisNitric Acid, Latin for Strong Water, it is a highly corrosive substance. Source: Oxford English Dictionary.lanthornLantern. Source: Oxford English Dictionary.walrusWalruses. Source: Oxford English Dictionary.orfordnessA sand bar off the eastern coast of England. Source: Wikipedia.smyrnaKnown today as Izmir, Turkey, this large port was an Ancient Greek city that’s strategically advantageous position has maintained it as a trading port to this day. Source: Wikipedia.inveiglePersuade. Source: Oxford English Dictionary.trepanThis does not refer to the surgical definition of trepan which means to dig a hole in the scull. This is a lesser known definition meaning to ensnare or trap.alarmReference to Joseph Alleine’s 1671 "An Alarm to the Unconverted," which was commonly referred to as the "Sure Guide to Heaven," that outlined the need for religious conversion of all people. Source: King James Bible.acts'Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.' Source: Acts 4:12.bornagainJesus answered, "Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit." Source: John 3:5.ardourHeat of passion or desire, vehemence, ardent desire; warmth of emotion, zeal, fervour, eagerness, enthusiasm. Source: Oxford English Dictionary.supplicationA humble plea; an earnest request or entreaty or the action of addressing a solemn request to God. Source: Oxford English Dictionary.inditedTo utter, suggest, or inspire a form of words which is to be repeated or written down. Source: Oxford English Dictionary.aminadabA person mentioned in Canticles 6:12 whose chariots were famed for their swiftness. Source: Bible Study Tools.ladenBurdened, loaded, weighed down. Source: Oxford English Dictionary).romans'For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.' Source: Romans 6:6.blackfriarsAn area of central London, which lies in the south-west corner of the City of London. The name Blackfriars was first used in 1317 and derives from the black cappa worn by the Dominican Friars who moved their priory from Holborn to the area between the River Thames and Legate Hill in 1276. Source: Blackfriars, Oxford, England.shewedA spelling of the word "showed." Source: Oxford English Dictionary.abhorrenceA feeling of revulsion; disgusted loathing. Source: Oxford English Dictionary.guileSly or cunning intelligence. Source: Oxford English Dictionary.impiousShowing lack of respect for God or religion. Source: Oxford English Dictionary.[Frontispiece]
Olaudah Equiano
or
Gustavus Vassa,
the African
Published March 1 1789 by G. Vassa
or
Gustavus Vassa,
the African
Published March 1 1789 by G. Vassa
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