A Dream of Coming into Great Wealth Turning Sour
Author: Arthur Edgar E. Smith
Category: Arts and Entertainment
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Equiano's new master Robert King, a Quaker merchant from Philadelphia who traded in the Caribbean, upon acquiring, Equiano set him to work on his shipping routes and in his stores immediately.
Soon King grew so close and fond of Equiano that he started thinking out a scheme whereby he could be free.
King soon promised that for forty pounds, the price he had paid for Equiano, Equiano could buy his freedom. He 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 him to come by the forty pounds to buy himself out of slavery honestly.
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 grew furious and immediately withdrew his services.
In many of the estates, on the different islands where he was being sent for rum or sugar, when he or any other Negro would not succeed in having it delivered to him, as was often the case, his master would send a white man along with him. Comparing the treatment he received from his master to the dreadful treatment meted out to the other poor black men like him 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 he was assigned to do.. As a result there was scarcely any part of his business, or household affairs, in which he was not occasionally engaged and thus be came familiar with if expert in. 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, he shaved and dressed his master. He also took care of his horse; and often worked on board his various vessels. He thus became very useful to his master; saving him, as he would later acknowledge a lot of expenses for which his master said he was greatly indebted to him. His master thus often confessed that Equiano was of more advantage to him than any of his clerks.
His master was several times offered by different gentlemen huge sums to purchase Equiano; but he wouild always state 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 would deny him his basic needs many of whom even criticised Mr King for feeding his slaves well.
Equiano soon begins to trade small quantities of imported goods to raise money to purchase his freedom, telling his friend that "life had lost its relish when liberty was gone". When he secures the necessary forty pounds and is eventually allowed to purchase 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. . "
Every day now brought Equiano nearer freedom. He was as a result growing more impatient to proceed again to sea, to have an opportunity of getting a sum that was large enough to purchase himself out of bondage. In the beginning of the year 1766, his master bought another vessel, the Nancy, the largest he had ever seen. She was partly laden, and was to proceed to Philadelphia. Their Captain who had his choice of three, chose theirs to their greatest happiness for it was the largest; vessel, which thus gave 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 he brought from Charlestown, as large a cargo as he could, trusting to God's providence to prosper his undertaking, he then sailed for Philadelphia. They arrived safely at Philadelphia, and 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 saw a meeting-house which he discovered from the open door was full of people. This excited his curiosity to go in. On entering, he was surprised to see a very tall woman standing amidst the crowd, speaking though audibly something which he could not understand. He was awe-struck at this shocking and unusual sight.. He stood staring about for some time, staring in wonder . As soon as it was over he inquired about them and was informed they were called Quakers.
He came to a crowded church crowded. 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, and had been yearning to see and hear him for long; so he sasw this as a golden opportunity to fulfill his long-felt desire. So he pressed in amidst the multitude. Now inside the church, he saw this pious man exhorting the people with the greatest fervor and earnestness, and sweating profusely. 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 at this; 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 he had not much liking for the place based on experiences 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.
As Equiano nears the achievement of his long-sought for and dreamed about freedom, he and the Captain, to whom he had become so close and trusted, met someone who raised their hopes of suddenly becoming very wealthy. This was a silversmith, whom they had brought there several voyages before and who agreed with the Captain to return with them to the West Indies, promising to give him a great deal of money, having pretended to have taken a liking to him, and being, as they thought, very rich.
But while loading their vessel this supposedly very affluent man suddenly fell ill. In a week's time his condition had worsened. Both Equiano and the Captain watched him with anxiety and expectation. This was more so because the more his condition worsened, the more he assured the Captain of giving him what he had promised. The captain thus came to expect to gain something considerable from the death of this wealthy but ill man. For the man apparently had no one who could inherit his wealth. So both Equiano and the Captain attended him day and night with Equiano often going along with the Captain, especially when it was apparent there was no hope for his recovery.
In order to reward him for his trouble, the Captain promised him ten pounds, when he should have gained possession of the man's property. Equiano thought this would be of great help to him, although he had nearly enough money to purchase his freedom. In this expectation Equiano put aside over eight pounds to purchase or order a splendid suit of high quality fabric to put on to dance with at his freedom, which he hoped would be soon.
They still continued to attend the sick man. They were constantly by his bedside even onto the last day of his life staying up to very late at night, before going back on board.
That day they had already returned to the ship and had gone to bed. Then at about one or two o'clock in the morning, the Captain was sent for, upon which he was informed that the man had died. On hearing this he woke Equiano, informed him of the rich man's death, and requested him to get up, procure a light, and immediately go to him. Even though Equiano felt sleepy, and wished he would take somebody else with him; or to leave things as they were till the next morning he would not heed and said 'No, no, we will have the money to-night, I cannot wait till to-morrow; so let us go.'
Accordingly Equiano got up and struck a match and lit a torch with which both of them found their way to the house. On arrival there they found rich man as dead as they could wish. The Captain then pledged loudly for all to hear to give him a grand burial, in gratitude for the promised treasure; and demanded that all the things belonging to the deceased be brought out at once. Among others, there was a convoy of trunks whose keys he had been keeping during the course of the man's illness. They opened them with great eagerness and expectation. With much impatience they took each one out of the other.
At last, when they came to the smallest, they opened it, and saw it was full of papers, which they supposed to be notes. At the sight of this their hearts leapt for joy; and that instant the Captain, clapping his hands, cried out, 'Thank God, here it is.' But upon taking it up for close examination the supposed treasure. and long-expected bounty, which they thought they had found and were embracing turned out to be an empty nothing. The whole amount that was in the nest of trunks was only one and a half dollar; and all that the man possessed would not pay for his coffin. Their sudden and exquisite joy was now transformed to a sudden and exquisite pain; and they exhibited, for some time, most ridiculous figures-pictures of chagrin and disappointment!
They went away greatly mortified, and left the deceased to do as well as he could for himself, as they had taken very good care of him when alive for nothing. They set sail once more for Montserrat, and arrived there safe; but much infuriated with their friend the silversmith. When they had unladen the vessel, and Equiano had sold his venture, and was now in possession of about forty-seven pounds, he consulted the Captain, how he should proceed in offering his master the money for his freedom. He advised him to come on a morning, when they would be at breakfast together.
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Keywords: dreaming of becoming wealthy, the sudden turn in fortune, slavery, thoughts of freedom, illness
View Count: 233
Date Submitted: 4/17/2008
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