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orpins
or tortoises, some dried turtle, and three large alligators alive, and
tied fast to the trees. I asked the people what they were going to do
with these alligators; and I was told they were to be eaten. I was
much surprised at this, and went home, not a little disgusted at the
preparations. When the day of the feast was come, we took some rum
with us, and went to the appointed place, where we found a great
assemblage of these people, who received us very kindly. The mirth had
begun before we came; and they were dancing with music: and the
musical instruments were nearly the same as those of any other sable
people; but, as I thought, much less melodious than any other nation I
ever knew. They had many curious gestures in dancing, and a variety of
motions and postures of their bodies, which to me were in no wise
attracting. The males danced by themselves, and the females also by
themselves, as with us. The Doctor shewed his people the example, by
immediately joining the women's party, though not by their choice. On
perceiving the women disgusted, he joined the males. At night there
were great illuminations, by setting fire to many pine trees, while
the dryckbot went round merrily by calabashes or gourds: but the
liquor might more justly be called eating than drinking. One Owden,
the oldest father in the vicinity, was dressed in a strange and
terrifying form. Around his body were skins adorned with different
kinds of feathers, and he had on his head a very large and high
head-piece, in the form of a grenadier's cap, with prickles like a
porcupine; and he made a certain noise which resembled the cry of an
alligator. Our people skipped amongst them out of complaisance, though
some could not drink of their tourrie; but our rum met with customers
enough, and was soon gone. The alligators were killed and some of them
roasted. Their manner of roasting is by digging a hole in the earth,
and filling it with wood, which they burn to coal, and then they lay
sticks across, on which they set the meat. I had a raw piece of the
alligator in my hand: it was very rich: I thought it looked like fresh
salmon, and it had a most fragrant smell, but I could not eat any of
it. This merry-making at last ended without the least discord in any
person in the company, although it was made up of different nations
and complexions. The rainy season came on here about the latter end of
May, which continued till August very heavily; so that the rivers were
overflowed, and our provisions then in the ground were washed away. I
thought this was in some measure a judgment upon us for working on
Sundays, and it hurt my mind very much. I often wished to leave this
place and sail for Europe; for our mode of procedure and living in
this heathenish form was very irksome to me. The word of God saith,
'What does it avail a man if he gain the whole world, and lose his own
soul?' This was much and heavily impressed on my mind; and, though I
did not know how to speak to the Doctor for my discharge, it was
disagreeable for me to stay any longer. But about the middle of June I
took courage enough to ask him for it. He was very unwilling at first
to grant my request; but I gave him so many reasons for it, that at
last he consented to my going, and gave me the following certificate
of my behaviour:

 'The bearer, Gustavus Vassa, has served me several years
 with strict honesty, sobriety, and fidelity. I can,
 therefore, with justice recommend him for these
 qualifications; and indeed in every respect I consider him
 as an excellent servant. I do hereby certify that he always
 behaved well, and that he is perfectly trust-worthy.

 'CHARLES IRVING.'

 _Musquito Shore, June 15, 1776._

Though I was much attached to the doctor, I was happy when he
consented. I got every thing ready for my departure, and hired some
Indians, with a large canoe, to carry me off. All my poor countrymen,
the slaves, when they heard of my leaving them, were very sorry, as I
had always treated them with care and affection, and did every thing I
could to comfort the poor creatures, and render their condition easy.
Having taken leave of my old friends and companions, on the 18th of
June, accompanied by the doctor, I left that spot of the world, and
went southward above twenty miles along the river. There I found a
sloop, the captain of which told me he was going to Jamaica. Having
agreed for my passage with him and one of the owners, who was also on
board, named Hughes, the doctor and I parted, not without shedding
tears on both sides. The vessel then sailed along the river till
night, when she stopped in a lagoon within the same river. During the
night a schooner belonging to the same owners came in, and, as she was
in want of hands, Hughes, the owner of the sloop, asked me to go in
the schooner as a sailor, and said he would give me wages. I thanked
him; but I said I wanted to go to Jamaica. He then immediately changed
his tone, and swore, and abused me very much, and asked how I came to
be freed. I told him, and said that I came into that vicinity with Dr.
Irving, whom he had seen that day. This account was of no use; he
still swore exceedingly at me, and cursed the master for a fool that
sold me my freedom, and the doctor for another in letting me go from
him. Then he desired me to go in the schooner, or else I should not go
out of the sloop as a freeman. I said this was very hard, and begged
to be put on shore again; but he swore that I should not. I said I had
been twice amongst the Turks, yet had never seen any such usage with
them, and much less could I have expected any thing of this kind
amongst Christians. This incensed him exceedingly; and, with a volley
of oaths and imprecations, he replied, 'Christians! Damn you, you are
one of St. Paul's men; but by G----, except you have St. Paul's or St.
Peter's faith, and walk upon the water to the shore, you shall not go
out of the vessel;' which I now found was going amongst the Spaniards
towards Carthagena, where he swore he would sell me. I simply asked
him what right he had to sell me? but, without another word, he made
some of his people tie ropes round each of my ancles, and also to each
wrist, and another rope round my body, and hoisted me up without
letting my feet touch or rest upon any thing. Thus I hung, without any
crime committed, and without judge or jury; merely because I was a
free man, and could not by the law get any redress from a white person
in those parts of the world. I was in great pain from my situation,
and cried and begged very hard for some mercy; but all in vain. My
tyrant, in a great rage, brought a musquet out of the cabin, and
loaded it before me and the crew, and swore that he would shoot me if
I cried any more. I had now no alternative; I therefore remained
silent, seeing not one white man on board who said a word on my
behalf. I hung in that manner from between ten and eleven o'clock at
night till about one in the morning; when, finding my cruel abuser
fast

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