"I offer here neither the history of a saint, a hero, nor a tyrant. I
believe there are few events in my life, which have not happened to
many; but when I compare my lot with that of many of my countrymen,
I acknowledge the mercies of Providence in the occurrences that have
taken place.
"That part of Africa known by the name of Guinea, to which the trade
for slaves is carried on, extends along the coast above 3,400 miles,
from Senegal to Angola, and includes a variety of kingdoms. The most
considerable of these is Benin, as it respects its extent, wealth, and
richness of soil. It is bounded on the sea 170 miles, and its interior
seems only terminated by the empire of Abyssinia, near 1,500 miles from
its first boundaries.
"In one of the most remote and fertile provinces of this kingdom I was
born, in the year 1745. As our country is one where nature is prodigal
of her favors, our wants, which are few, are easily supplied. All our
industry is turned to the improvement of those blessings, and we are
habituated to labor from our early years; and by this means we have no
beggars.
"Our houses never exceed one story, and are built of wood, thatched
with reeds, and the floors are generally covered with mats. The dress
of both sexes consists of a long piece of calico or muslin, wrapped
loosely round the body; our beds are also covered with the same kind
of cloth; this the women make when they are not engaged in labor with
the men. Our tillage is in a large common, and all the people resort
thither in a body and unite in the labor.
"My father being a man of rank, had a numerous family; his children
consisted of one daughter, and a number of sons, of which I was the
youngest. As I generally attended my mother, she took great pains in
forming my mind, and training me to exercise. In this way, I grew up to
about the eleventh year of my age, when an end was put to my happiness
in the following manner:
"One day, when all our people were gone to their work, and only my dear
sister and myself were left to watch the house, two men and a woman
came, and seizing us both, stopped our mouths that we should not make a
noise, and ran off with us into the woods, where they tied our hands,
and took us some distance, to a small house, where we stayed that night.
"The next morning, after keeping in the woods some distance, we came
to an opening, where we saw some people at work, and I began to cry
for assistance; but this made them tie us faster, and again stop our
mouths; and they put me into a sack until we had got out of sight of
these people. When they offered us food we could not eat. Often bathing
each other in tears, our only respite was sleep; but alas! even the
privilege of weeping together was soon denied us. While enclosed in
each other's arms we were torn asunder, and I was left in a state of
distress not to be described.
"After travelling a great distance, suffering many hardships, and being
sold several times, one evening my dear sister was brought to the same
house. We were both so overcome that we could not speak for some time,
but clung to each other and wept. And when the people were told that we
were brother and sister, they indulged us with being together; and one
of the men at night lay between us, and allowed us to hold each other's
hand across him.
"This comfort, small as it may appear to some, was not so to us: but it
was of short duration; when morning came, we were again separated, and
I never saw her more. I remember the happiness of our childish sports,
the indulgence of maternal affection; and fear that her lot would be
still harder than mine, fixed her image so indelibly on my mind, that
neither prosperity nor adversity has ever erased it.
"I once attempted to run away; but when I had got into the woods, and
night came on, I became alarmed with the idea of being devoured by wild
beasts, and with trembling steps, and a sad heart, I returned to my
master's house, and laid down in his fireplace, where I was found in
the morning. Being closely reprimanded by my master, he ordered me to
be taken care of, and I was soon sold again. I then travelled through a
very fertile country, where I saw cocoa-nuts and sugar-cane.
"All the people I had hitherto seen, resembled my own; and having
learned a little of several languages, I could understand them pretty
well; but now, after six or seven months had passed away, from the time
I was kidnapped, I arrived at the sea-coast, and I beheld that element
which before I had no idea of. It also made me acquainted with such
cruelties as I can never reflect upon but with horror. The first object
that met my sight was a _slave ship_ riding at anchor, _waiting for her
cargo_!
"When I was taken on board, being roughly handled and closely examined
by these men, whose complexion and language differed so much from any I
had seen or heard before, I apprehended I had got into a world of bad
spirits, which so overcame me that I fainted and fell. When I came to,
their horrible looks and red faces frightened me again exceedingly. But
I had not time to think much about it, before I was, with many of my
poor country people, put under deck in a loathsome and horrible place.
In this situation we wished for death, and sometimes refused to eat,
and for this we were beaten.
"After enduring more hardships than I can relate, we arrived at
Barbadoes, in the West Indies. When taken on shore, we were put into
a pen like so many beasts, and thence sold and separated--husbands
and wives, parents and children, brothers and sisters, without any
distinction. Their cries excited some compassion in the hearts of those
who were capable of feeling, but others seemed to feel no remorse,
though the scene was so affecting.
"I, with some others, was sent to America: when we arrived in Virginia,
we were also sold and separated. Not long after, Captain Pascal, coming
to my master's, purchased me, and sent me on board his ship, called the
Industrious Bee. I had not yet learned much of the English language,
so I could not understand their conversation; and some of them made
me believe I was going home to Africa. This pleased me very much, and
the kind treatment I received made me happy; but when we came in sight
of England, I found they had deceived me. It was on board this ship I
received the name of Gustavus Vassa.
"Having often seen my master, and a lad named Richard Baker, who was
very kind to me, reading in books, I had a desire to do so, that I
might find out how all things had a beginning. For that purpose, I
often took a book, talked to it, and then placed it to my ear to hear
what it would say; but when I found it remained silent, I was much
concerned.
"The summer of 1757, I was taken by a press-gang, and carried on board
a man-of-war. After passing about a year in this service, on the coast
of France and in America, on my return to England, I received much
kindness, and was sent to school, where I learned to read and write. My
master receiving the office of lieutenant on board one of those ships,
took me with him up the Mediterranean. My desire for learning induced
some of my shipmates to instruct me, so that I could read the Bible;
and one of them, a sober man, explained many passages to me.
"As I had now served my master faithfully several years, and his
kindness had given me hopes that he would grant my freedom when we
arrived in England, I ventured to tell him so; but he was offended, for
he had determined on sending me to the West Indies. Accordingly, at the
close of the year 1762, finding a vessel bound thither, he took me on
board, and gave me in charge of the captain.
"I endeavored to expostulate with him, by telling him he had received
my wages and all my prize money, but it was to no purpose. Taking my
only coat from my back, he went off in his boat. I followed them with
aching eyes, and a heart ready to burst with grief, until they were out
of sight. The captain, whose name was Doran, treated me very kindly,
but we had a tempestuous voyage.
"When we came in sight of Montserrat, remembering what I had seen on
my first arrival from Africa, it chilled me to the heart, and brought
nothing to my view but misery, stripes, and chains: and to complete my
distress, two of the sailors robbed me of about eight guineas, which I
had collected by doing little jobs on board the ships of war, and which
I hid when my master took my coat.
"Having unladed the ship, and laded her again for sea, the captain sent
for me: when, with trembling steps and a faltering heart, I came to
him. I found him sitting with Robert King, a Quaker, and a merchant:
and after telling me the charge he had to get me a good master, he said
he had got me one of the best on the island. Mr. King also said he had
bought me on account of my good character (to maintain which I found to
be of great importance), and that his home was in Philadelphia, where
he expected soon to go, and he did not intend to treat me hard.
"He asked me what I could do. I answered, I can shave and dress hair
pretty well; and that I have learned to refine wines; I could write,
and understood arithmetic as far as the Rule of Three. The character
Captain Doran had given of my master, I found to be correct. He
possessed an amiable disposition, and was very charitable and humane.
"In passing about the island, I had an opportunity of seeing the
dreadful usage, and wretched situation of the poor slaves; and it
reconciled me to my condition, and made me thankful for being placed
with so kind a master. He was several times offered a great price for
me, but he would not sell me. Having obtained three pence, I began a
little trade, and soon gained a dollar, then more; with this I bought
me a Bible.
"Going in a vessel of my master's to Georgia and Charleston, a small
venture I took on my return answered a very good purpose. In 1765, my
master prepared for going to Philadelphia. With his crediting me for
some articles, and the little stock of my own, I laid in considerable,
which elated me much; and I told him I hoped I should soon obtain
enough to purchase my freedom, which he promised me I should have when
I could pay him what he gave for me.
"Between Montserrat and several ports in America we made many trips.
One circumstance occurred when I was in Georgia that was a serious
one to me. Being in a yard with some slaves one evening, their master
coming home drunk, and seeing me, a stranger, he, with a stout man to
help him, beat me so that I could not go aboard the ship, which gave
the captain much anxiety. When he found me, and saw the situation I
was in, he wept; but by his kind attention, and that of a skilful
physician, I was in a few weeks able to go on board and attend to my
business.
"Thus, passing from one port to another, with my kind master's and
captain's indulgence, and my own indefatigable industry and economy,
I obtained the sum required for my liberty. So, one morning, while
they were at breakfast, I ventured to remind my master of what he had
promised, and to tell him I had got the money--at which he seemed
surprised. The captain told him I had come honestly by it, and he must
now fulfil his promise.
"Upon which he told me to get a manumission drawn, and he would sign
it. At this intelligence my heart leaped for joy. When the whole was
finished, and I was in reality free, I felt like another being--my joy
was indescribable. My master and Captain Doran entreated me not to
leave them, and gratitude induced me to stay, though I longed to see
Captain Pascal, and let him know I was _free_.
"I now hired as a sailor, and our next voyage was to Savannah. When we
were preparing to return, and were taking some cattle on board, one of
them butted the captain in the breast, which affected him so that he
was unable to do duty, and he died before we reached our port. This was
a heavy stroke to me, for he had been my true friend, and I loved him
as a father.
"The winter following, I sailed again for Georgia, with a new captain,
in the Nancy: but steering a more westerly course than usual, we soon
got on the Bahama banks, where our vessel was wrecked, but no lives
were lost. Getting on one of the islands, with some salt provision we
had saved, we remained there many days, and suffered much for want of
fresh water.
"When we were almost famished with hunger and thirst, we were found and
carried to New Providence, where we were kindly treated. Thence we were
taken to Savannah, so to Martinico and Montserrat, having been absent
about six months, and experienced the delivering hand of Providence
more than once, when all human means seemed hopeless.
"After relating to Mr. King the loss of the Nancy, and the various
hardships we had endured, I again told him my desire to go to England;
and although he wished me to remain in his service, he consented, and
gave me the following certificate:--'The bearer hereof, Gustavus Vassa,
was my slave upward of three years; during which time he always behaved
himself well, and discharged his duty with honesty and assiduity.--R.
KING.'
"Obtaining this certificate, I soon parted with my kind master, and
arrived in England. When I here received my wages, I had thirty-seven
guineas. I soon found my old captain, Pascal, who was surprised to see
me, and asked how I came back. I told him, 'In a ship.' To which he
replied, 'I suppose you did not _walk_ on the _water_.'
"I now set my mind on getting more learning, and attending school
diligently. My money not being sufficient, I hired myself to service a
while; but having a desire to go again to the Mediterranean, I engaged
on board a ship, where the mate taught me navigation. While at Smyrna,
I saw many caravans from India. Among other articles, they brought
great quantities of locusts, and a kind of pulse resembling French
beans, though larger; they are sweet and palatable.
"In the spring of 1773, an expedition was fitted out to explore a
northwest passage to India. Dr. Irving concluding to go, I accompanied
him, and we went on board one of the vessels the 24th of May; and about
the middle of June, by the use of the doctor's apparatus for making
salt water fresh, we distilled from twenty-six to forty gallons a day.
On the 28th we reached Greenland, where I found the sun did not set.
"We found large fields of ice, and to one of them, about eighty yards
thick, we made our vessel fast: but we soon became so surrounded with
ice that we could not move, and were in danger of being crushed to
pieces. In this perilous situation we remained eleven days, when the
weather becoming more mild, and the wind changing, the ice gave way,
and in about thirty hours, with hard labor, we got into open water,
to our great joy, and arrived at Deptford, after an absence of four
months, wherein we had experienced imminent dangers.
"Rejoicing to be again in England, I entered into service, and remained
a considerable time; during which I began to reflect seriously on the
many dangers I had escaped, particularly in my last voyage, and it
made a serious impression on my mind; and my reflections were often
turned to the awfulness of eternity.
"In this state, I took to my Bible, rejoicing that I could read it for
myself, and I received encouragement. While my mind was thus seriously
impressed, I went several voyages to Spain, and being often led to look
over the occurrences of my past life, I saw there had been the hand of
Providence to guide and protect me, though I knew it not; and when I
considered my obligations to the Lord for His goodness, I wept.
"On our return, the last voyage, we picked up eleven Portuguese. Their
vessel had sunk, with two of the crew, and they were in a small open
boat, without victuals, compass, water, or anything else, and must soon
have perished. As soon as they got on board our vessel, they fell on
their knees and thanked God for their deliverance. Thus I saw verified
what was written in the 107th Psalm.
"From the year 1777 to 1784, I remained more quiet; but about the
latter period I made a trip to New York, and one to Philadelphia. At
the latter place, I was very much pleased to see the worthy Quakers
easing the burdens of my oppressed countrymen. It also rejoiced my
heart when one of these people took me to the free school, and I saw
the children of my color instructed, and their minds cultivated to fit
them for usefulness.
"Not long after my return, I found government was preparing to make
a settlement of free people of color on the coast of Africa, and that
vessels were engaged to carry such as wished to go to Sierra Leone.
I engaged as commissary, and we set sail with 426 persons. But the
time of our arrival there, the rainy season having commenced, proved
unfavorable, and some of us soon returned to England; where, since
that period, I have been doing what I could for the relief of my
much-injured country people.
"Having been early taught to look for the hand of God in minute
circumstances, they have been of consequence to me; and aiming at
simple truth in relating the incidents of my life, I hope some of my
readers will gather instruction from them."
Gregorie, in his Inquiry into the Intellectual and Moral Faculties
of the Negroes, states, that after thirty years of a wandering and
stormy life, Vassa established himself in London, where he married, and
published his memoirs, which have been several times reprinted--the
last edition in 1794; and it is proved by the most respectable
testimony that he was the author. In 1789, he presented a petition to
parliament for the suppression of the slave trade.
He also says, that a son of his, named Sancho, having received a
good education, was an assistant librarian to Sir Joseph Banks, and
secretary to the committee for vaccination. And he concludes with
this remark: "If Vassa still lived, the bill which was lately passed,
prohibiting the slave trade, would be consoling to his heart, and to
his old age."