The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavas Vassa, The African

by Olaudah Equiano

Chapter I - Footnotes

See Benezet's "Account of Guinea" throughout.

[B] When I was in Smyrna I have frequently seen the Greeks dance after this manner.

[C] 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 born by one, and frequently out of grandeur by two boys.

[D] 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.

[E] See Benezet's Account of Africa throughout.

[F] See also Leut. Matthew's Voyage, p. 123.

[G] 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.

[H] Page 178 to 216.

[I] Philos. Trans. Nº 476, Sect. 4, cited by Mr. Clarkson, p. 205.

[J] Same page.

[K] Acts, c. xvii. v. 26.