 Section 8 of Biography of Muhammad Jeeba Quaqwa by Samuel Moore, Leslie Revoque's recording is in the public domain. Chapter 7 Part 2 IT'S HORRORS. Ha! Who can describe? Non can so truly depict its horrors as the poor, unfortunate, miserable wretch that has been confined within its portals. Oh, friends of humanity! Pity the poor African who has been trippend and sold away from friends and whom and consigned to the hold of a slave ship, to await even more horrors and miseries in a distant land, amongst the religious and benevolent—yes, even in their very midst—but to the ship. We were thrust into the hold of the vessel in a state of nudity, the males being crammed on one side and the females on the other. The hold was so low that we could not stand up, but were obliged to crouch upon the floor or sit down. Day and night were the same to us, sleep being denied us from the confined position of our bodies, and we became desperate through suffering and fatigue. Ho! The lulsomeness and filth of that horrible place will never be effaced from my memory. Nay, as long as memory holds her seat in this distracted brain will I remember that. My heart, even at this day, sickenes at the thought of it. Let those humane individuals who are in favor of slavery only allow themselves to take the slave's position in the noisome hold of a slave ship. Just for one trip from Africa to America, and without going into the horrors of slavery further than this, if they do not come out thoroughgoing abolitionists, then I have no more to say in favor of abolition. But I think their views and feelings regarding slavery will be changed in some degree, however. If not, let them continue in the course of slavery and work out their term in a cotton or rice field or other plantation. And then, if they do not say hold enough, I think they must be of iron frames possessing neither hearts nor souls. I imagine there can be but one place more horrible in all creation than the hold of a slave ship. And that place is where slave holders and their mermidans are the most likely to find themselves someday, when, alas, to be too late, too late, alas. The only food we had during the voyage was corn soaked and boiled. I cannot tell how long we were thus confined, but it seemed a very long while. We suffered very much for want of water, but was denied all we needed. A pint a day was all that was allowed and no more, and a great many slaves died upon the passage. There was one poor fellow, became so very desperate for want of water, that he attempted to snatch a knife from the white man who brought in the water when he was taken up on deck, and I never knew what became of him. I suppose he was thrown overboard. When any one of us became refractory, his flesh was cut with a knife, and pepper or vinegar was rubbed in to make him peaceable. I suffered, and so did the rest of us, very much from sea sickness at first, but that did not cause or brutal owners any trouble. Our sufferings were our own. We had no one to share our troubles, none to care for us, or even to speak a word of comfort to us. Some were thrown overboard before breath was out of their bodies. When it was thought any would not live, they were got rid of in that way. Only twice during the voyage we were allowed to go on deck to wash ourselves, once whilst at sea, and again just before going into port. We arrived at Pernambuco, South America, early in the morning, and the vessel played about during the day without coming to anchor. All that day we neither ate or drank anything, and we were given to understand that we were to remain perfectly silent, and not make any outcry, otherwise our lives were in danger. But when night threw her sable mantle on the earthen sea, the anchor dropped, and we were permitted to go on deck to be viewed and handled by our future masters, who had come aboard from the city. We landed a few miles from the city, at a farmer's house, which was used as a kind of slave market. The farmer had a great many slaves, and I had not been there very long before I saw him use the lash pretty freely on a boy, which made a deep impression on my mind, as of course I imagined that would be my fate or long, and oh, too soon, alas, were my fears realized. When I reached the shore, I felt thankful to Providence that I was once more permitted to breathe pure air, the thought of which almost absorbed every other. I cared but little, then, that I was a slave, having escaped the ship was all I thought about. Some of the slaves on board could talk Portuguese. They had been living on the coast with Portuguese families, and they used to interpret to us. They were not placed in the hold with the rest of us, but come down occasionally to tell us something or other. These slaves never knew they were to be sent away until they were placed on board the ship. I remained in this slave market but a day or two, before I was again sold to a slave dealer in the city, who again sold me to a man in the country, who was a baker, and resided not a great distance from Pernambuco. When a slave comes in, the news spreads like wildfire, and down come all those that are interested in the arrival of the vessel with its cargo of living merchandise, who select from the stock those most suited to their different purposes, and purchase the slaves precisely in the same way that oxen or horses would be purchased in a market. But if there are not the kind of slaves in the one cargo suited to the wants and wishes of the slave buyers, an order is given to the captain for the particular sorts required, which are furnished to order the next time the ship comes into port. Great numbers make quite a business of this buying and selling human flesh, and do nothing else for a living, depending entirely upon this kind of traffic. I had contrived whilst on my passage in the slave ship to gather up a little knowledge of the Portuguese language from the men before spoken of, and as my master was a Portuguese, I could comprehend what he wanted very well, and gave him to understand that I would do all he needed as well as I was able, upon which he appeared quite satisfied. His family consisted of himself, wife, two children, and a woman who was related to them. He had four other slaves as well as myself. He was a Roman Catholic, and had family worship regularly twice a day, which was something after the following. He had a large clock standing in the entry of the house in which were some images made of clay, which were used in worship. We all had to kneel before them, the family in front and the slaves behind. We were taught to chant some words which we did not know the meaning of. We also had to make the sign of the cross several times. Whilst worshipping, my master held a whip in his hand, and those who showed signs of inattention or drowsiness were immediately brought to consciousness by a smart application of the whip. This mostly fell to the lot of the female slave, who would often fall asleep in spite of the images, crossings, and other-like pieces of amusement. I was soon placed at hard labor, such as none but slaves and horses are put to. At the time of this man's purchasing me, he was building a house, and had to fetch a building-storm from across the river, a considerable distance, and I was compelled to carry them that were so heavy it took three men to raise them upon my head, which burdened I was obliged to bear for a quarter of a mile, at least, down to where the boat lay. Sometimes the stone would press so hard upon my head that I was obliged to throw it down upon the ground, and then my master would be very angry indeed, and would say the cassouli dog had thrown down the stone, and I thought in my heart that he was the worst dog, but it was only a thought, as I dare not give utterance in words. I soon improved in my knowledge of the Portuguese language whilst here, and was able very shortly to count a hundred. I was then sent out to sell bread for my master, first going round through the town and then out into the country, and in the evening, after coming home again, sold in the market till nine at night. Being pretty honest and persevering, I generally sold out, but sometimes was not quite successful, and then the lash was my portion. My companions in slavery were not quite so steady as I was, being much given to drink, so that they were not so profitable to my master. I took advantage of this to raise myself in his opinion, by being very attentive and obedient. But it was all the same, do what I would. I found I had a tyrant to serve. Nothing seemed to satisfy him, so I took to drinking likewise. Then we were all of a sort, bad master, bad slaves. Things went on worse and worse, and I was very anxious to change masters, so I tried running away, but was soon caught, tied, and carried back. I next tried what it would do for me by being unfaithful and indolent. So one day, when I was sent out to sell bread as usual, I only sold a small quantity, and the money I took and spent for whiskey, which I drank pretty freely, and went home well drunk. When my master went to count the days, take it in my basket, and discovering the state of things, I was beaten very severely. I told him he must not whip me any more, and got quite angry, for the thought came into my head that I would kill him, and afterwards destroy myself. I at last made up my mind to drown myself. I would rather die than live to be a slave. I then ran down to the river and threw myself in, but being seen by some persons who were in a boat, I was rescued from drowning. The tide was low at the time, or their efforts would most likely have been unavailing, and notwithstanding my predetermination, I thanked God that my life had been preserved, and that so wicked a deed had not been consummated. It led me seriously to reflect that God moves in a mysterious way, and that all his acts are acts of kindness and mercy. I was then but a poor heathen, almost as ignorant as a hotentok, and had not learned the true God nor any of his divine commandments. Yet ignorant and slave as I was, slavery I loathed, principally as I suppose, because I was its victim. After this sad attempt upon my life, I was taken to my master's house, who tied my hands behind me, and placed my feet together, and whipped me most unmercifully, and beat me about the head and face with a heavy stick, and shook me by the neck, and struck my head against the doorposts, which cut and bruised me about the temples, the scars from which savage treatment are visible at this time, and will remain so as long as I live. After all this cruelty, he took me to the city, and sold me to a dealer, where he had taken me once before, but his friends advised him then not to part with me, as they considered it more to his advantage to keep me as I was a profitable slave. I have not related a tithe of the cruel suffering which I endured, whilst in the service of this wretch in human form. The limits of the present work will not allow more than a hasty glance at the different scenes which took place in my brief career. I could tell more than would be pleasant for ears polite, and could not possibly do any good. I could relate occurrences which would freeze thy young blood, harrow up thy soul, and make each particular hair to stand on end like quills upon the fretful porcupine. And yet, it would be but a repetition of the thousand and one off-told tales of the horrors of the cruel system of slavery. The man to whom I was again sold was very cruel indeed. He bought two females at the time he bought me. One of them was a very beautiful girl, and he treated her with shocking barbarity. After a few weeks, he shipped me off to Rio de Janeiro, where I remained two weeks previous to being again sold. There was a collared man there who wanted to buy me, but for some reason or other he did not complete the purchase. I merely mentioned this fact to illustrate that slaveholding is generated in power, and anyone having the means of buying his fellow creature with the poultry dross can become a slave owner, no matter his color, his creed or country, and that the collared man would as soon enslave his fellow man as the white man had he the power. I was at length sold to a captain of a vessel who was what may be termed a hard case. He invited me to go and see his senora, wife. I made my best bow to her, and was soon installed into my new office, that of scouring the brass work about the ship, cleaning the knives and forks, and doing other little matters necessary to be done about the cabin. I did not at first like my situation, but as I got acquainted with the crew and the rest of the slaves I got along pretty well. In a short time I was promoted to the office of under-steward. The steward provided for the table, and I carried the provisions to the cook and wait at that table. Being pretty smart, they gave me plenty to do. A short time after, the captain and steward disagreed, and he gave up his stewardship when the keys of his office were entrusted to me. I did all in my power to please my master, the captain, and he in return placed confidence in me. The captain's lady was anything but a good woman. She had a most wretched temper. The captain had carried her off from St. Catherine's, just as she was on the point of getting married, and I believe was never married to her. She often got me into disgrace with my master, and then a whipping was sure to follow. She would at one time do all she could to get me a flogging, and at other times she would interfere and prevent it, just as she was in the humor. She was a strange compound of humanity and brutality. She always went to sea with the captain. Our first voyage was to Rio Grande. The voyage itself was pleasant enough, had I not suffered with seasickness. The harbor at Rio Grande is rather shallow, and on entering we struck the ground, as it happened at low water, and we had great difficulty in getting her to float again. We finally succeeded and exchanged our cargo for dried meat. We then went to Rio de Janeiro and soon succeeded in disposing of the cargo. We then steered for St. Catherine's to obtain farinha, a kind of bread stuff used mostly by the slaves. From thence, we turned again to Rio Grande and exchanged our cargo for whale oil and put out again to sea, and stood for Rio de Janeiro. The vessel being very heavily laden, we had a very bad time of it. We all expected that we should be lost, but by lightening the ship of part of her cargo, which we did by throwing overboard a quantity, the ship and all hands were once more saved from the devouring jaws of the destructive element. Headwinds were prevalent, and although within sight of port for several days we could not make the harbor do all we could. Whilst in the doubtful position of whether we should be lost or not, it occurred to me that death would be but a release from my slavery, and on that account rather welcome than otherwise. Indeed, I hardly dared to care either way. I was but a slave, and I felt myself to be one without hope or prospects of freedom, without friends or liberty. I had no hopes in this world and knew nothing of the next. All was gloom, all was fear. The present and the future were as one, no dividing mark, all toil, toil, cruelty, cruelty, no end but death to all my woes. I was not a Christian then. I knew not of a Saviour's love. I knew nothing of his saving grace, of his love for poor lost sinners, of his mission of peace and good will to all men, nor had I heard of that good land so beautifully spoken of by the poet. A land of pure delight where saints immortal dwell, and to which land of promise the Christian is daily shortening the journey. No, these tidings of great joy had not then been imparted to my gloomy mind, and all was black despair. But when I heard the Saviour's words, come unto me all ye that are heavy laden, and I will give you rest, I sought and found him, which came as a balm to my wounds, as consolation to my afflicted soul. Then think of all this, and consider the past. I am content to struggle on in this world to fulfill my mission here, and to do the work that is given me to do. Ho, Christianity, thou soother of men's sufferings, thou guide to the blind, and strength to the weak. Go down thy mission, speak the peaceful tidings of salvation all around, and make glad the heart of men. Then shall the wilderness be glad and blossom as the rose. Then will slavery, with all its horrors, ultimately come to an end, for none possessing thy power and under thy influence can perpetuate a calling so utterly at variance with and repugnant to all thy doctrines. After great labour and toil, we were landed in perfect safety. During this voyage I endured more corporeal punishment than ever I did my life. The mate, a perfect brute of a fellow, ordered me one day to wash down the vessel, and after I had finished he pointed to a place where he said was a spot, and with an oath ordered me to scrub it over again, and I did so, but not being in the best of humour, he required it to be done a third time, and so on again. When finding it was only out of caprice, and there being no spot to clean, I in the end refused to scrub any more. When he took a broomstick to me, and having a scrubbing brush in my hand, I lifted it to him. The master saw all that was going on, and was very angry at me for attempting to strike the mate. He ordered one of the hands to cut a piece of rope for him. He told me I was to be whipped, and I answered, very well, but kept on with my work with an eye continually turned towards him, watching his movements. When I had set the breakfast ready, he came behind me before I could get out of his way, and struck me with the rope over my shoulders, and being rather long, the end of it swung down, and struck my stomach very violently, which caused me some pain and sickness. The force with which the blow was struck completely knocked me down, and afterwards he beat me whilst on deck in a most brutal manner. My mistress interfered at this time, and saved me from further violence. We remained at Rio de Janeiro nearly a month. Whilst there an incident occurred, which I will relate in illustration of the slave system. One day it was necessary for me to go ashore with my master as one of the oarsmen, and whilst there I drank pretty freely of wine, and seeing my master about returning to the boat, I made forward lay, and being rather confused with drink, as well as flurry at seeing my master, I fell into the water. But it being only shallow, I suffered nothing further than a good ducking for my drunkness. I was easily got out. Whilst rowing my master, my head swam very much from the effects of the liquor I had drank, and consequently did not pull very steadily. When my master, seeing the plight I was in, asked me what was the matter. I said, Nothing sir. He said again, Have you been drinking? I answered, No sir. So that by being ill-used I learned to drink, and from that I learned to tell lies, and no doubt should have gone on step by step from bad to worse, until nothing would have been wicked enough for me to have done, and all this through the horrible system of slavery. But I am happy to say that through the grace of God I was led to abandon my evil ways. When the cargo was landed, an English merchant having a quantity of coffee for shipment to New York, my master was engaged for the purpose, and it was arranged, after some time, that I should accompany him, together with several others to serve on ship-board. We all had learned that at New York there was no slavery, that it was a free country, and that if we once got there we had nothing to dread from our cruel slave masters, and that we were all most anxious to get there. Previous to the time of the ship sailing, we were informed that we were going to a land of freedom. I said then, you will never see me anymore after I once get there. I was overjoyed at the idea of going to a free country, an array of hope dawned upon me, that the day was not far distant when I should be a free man. Indeed, I felt myself already free. How beautifully the sun shone on that eventful morning, the morning of our departure for that land of freedom we had heard so much about. The winds, too, were favorable, and soon the canvas spread before the exhilarating breeze, and our ship stood for that happy land. The duties of office on that voyage appeared light to me indeed, in anticipation of seeing the goodly land, and nothing at all appeared a trouble to me. I obeyed all orders cheerfully and with elecrity. That was the happiest time in my life. Even now my heart thrills with joyous delight when I think of that voyage, and believe that the God of all mercies ordered all for my good. How thankful was I? The winds held favorable for a speedy passage several days together, after which we experienced very rough tempestuous weather, which somewhat retarded our progress, and put us in some danger of being sent to that borne from whence no traveler returns, as fears were entertained for our safety. One night during the voyage it blew a perfect hurricane the whole night, and just previous to daybreak the lamps in the binocle went out with the heavy rolling of the ship. I was ordered to light it, but on account of the high wind, after several attempts, I entirely failed. Aha, says the captain. My boy, you can't light the binocle, can't you? The men at the helm said it was light enough. He could do without it. He could see the compass well enough. But as orders were given, whether the light was wanted or not, they must be obeyed. So three other hands recalled, and a blanket was placed around the binocle to keep off the wind, when they succeeded at length enlighten it. But I'm not understanding how to do it, could not light it. I had tried over and over again. After this, the captain got out of his berth, dressed himself, and ordered me to light his lamp. When I went to him, he took a large stick for the purpose of striking me, and aiming a blow at my head, I raised my arm to prevent my head being struck. He told me to keep my hand down. I did so, but when the blow was falling, I again raised my hand and succeeded in saving my skull from being cracked. He did not want to strike my hand, as that would prevent me from doing my work. But whether my head was broke or not, I should have had to do my usual work. He then told me to turn round so he might be able to strike my back. I told him to strike me all that he wanted. He was very angry and struck me at random over my head and body, just where it might happen. I defied him to do his worst, to do what he could and wreck his vengeance fully upon a miserable being like myself. He then called to three of the hands and ordered them to tie me to the cannon. I had thoughts of springing into the water, but was not quite satisfied to go alone. If I could have had the pleasure of taking him along with me, I should have willingly done so. The three men fastened hold upon me and placed me upon the cannon, face downwards. They were then ordered to whip me, which they did pretty smartly. He then required me to take submission and beg for mercy, but that I would not do. I told him to kill me if he pleased, but for mercy at his hands, I would not cry. I also told him that when they untied me from the cannon, he must take care of himself that day, as when I looked upon my lacerated bleeding body, I reflected that though it was bruised and torn, my heart was not subdued. As soon as I was loosened, I made towards the captain, who gave orders to the men to place me securely in the bow of the vessel and not allow me to go near him again. I was so sore from my bruises and cuts that I could do nothing for several days. The captain during my sickness would send me good victuals from his own table, no doubt to conciliate me after the cruel wrongs he had inflicted on me, but that was in vain. I was not in any great hurry to get to work again, as he frequently, previous to this, caused me to be flogged for not doing what it would have taken any three men to have done, so that I now felt inclined that he should do without any further services altogether. Slavery is bad, slavery is wrong. This captain did a great many cruel things which would be horrible to relate. He treated the female slaves with very great cruelty and barbarity. He had it all his own way. There were none to take their part. He was for the time monarch of all he served, king of the floating house, none there to gainsay his power to control his will. But the day is coming when his power will be vested in another and of his stewardship, he must render an account. Alas, what account can he render of the crimes committed upon the writhing bodies of the poor pitiless wretches he had under his charge when his kingship shall seeds and the great account is called for? How shall he answer? And what will be his doom? That will only be known when the great book is opened. May God pardon him in his infinite mercy for the tortures inflicted upon his fellow creatures, although of a different complexion. The first words of English that my two companions and myself ever learned was F-R-E-E. We were taught it by an Englishman on board and how many times did I repeat it over and over again. The same man told me a great deal about New York City. He could speak Portuguese. He told me how the colored people in New York were all free and it made me feel very happy and I longed for the day to come when I should be there. The day at length came, but it was not an easy matter for two boys and a girl who could only speak one word of English to make their escape, having, as we supposed, no friends to aid us. But God was our friend as it proved in the end and raised up for us many friends in a strange land. The pilot who came aboard of our vessel treated us very kindly. He appeared different to any person I had ever seen before and we took courage from that little circumstance. The next day, a great many colored persons came aboard a vessel who inquired whether we were free. The captain had previously told us not to say that we were slaves, but we heeded not his wish. And he, seeing so many persons coming aboard, began to entertain fears that his property would take in their heads to lift their heels and run away, so he very prudently informed us that New York was no place for us to go about in, that it was a very bad place and as sure as the people caught us, they would kill us. But when we were alone, we concluded that we would take the first opportunity and the chance how we would fare in a free country. One day, when I had helped myself rather freely to whine, I was imprudent enough to say I would not stay aboard any longer, that I would be free. The captain hearing it called me down below and he and three others endeavored to confine me who could not do so. But they ultimately succeeded in confining me in a room in the bow of the vessel. I was there in confinement several days. The man who brought my food would knock at the door and if I told him to come in, he would do so. Otherwise, he would pass along and I got no food. I told him on one occasion that I would not remain confined there another day with my life, that out I would get and there being some pieces of iron in the room, towards night I took hold of one of them. It was a bar, about two feet long. With that, I broke open the door and walked out. The men were all busy at work and the captain's wife was standing on the deck when I ascended from my prison. I heard them asking one another who had let me out but no one could tell. I bowed to the captain's wife and passed on to the side of the ship. There was a plank from the ship to the shore. I walked across it and ran as if for my life. Of course not knowing whether I was going. I was observed during my flight by a watchman who was rather lame and he undertook to stop me but I shook him off and passed on until I got to a store at the door of which I halted a moment to take breath. They inquired of me what was the matter but I could not tell them as I knew nothing of English but the word free. Soon after the lame watchman and another came up to me. One of them drew a bright star from his pocket and shooed it to me but I could make nothing of it. I was then taken to the watch house and locked up all night where the captain called next morning, paid expenses and took me back again to the ship along with him. The officers told me I should be a free man if I chose but I did not know how to act. So after a little persuasion the captain induced me to go back with him as I need not be afraid. This was on a Saturday and on the following Monday afternoon three carriages drove up and stopped near the vessel. Some gentlemen came aboard from them and walked about the deck talking to the captain telling him that all on board were free and requesting him to hoist the flag. He blushed a good deal and said he would not do so. He put himself in a great rage and stormed somewhat considerably. We were afterwards taken in their carriages accompanied by the captain to a very handsome building with a splendid portico in front. The entrance to which was ascended by a flight of marble steps and was surrounded by a neat iron railing having gates at different points the enclosure being ornamented with trees and shrubs of various kinds. It appeared to me a most beautiful place as I had never seen anything like it before. I afterwards learned that this building was the city hall of New York. When we arrived in the large room of the building it was crowded to access by all kinds of people and great numbers stood about the doors and steps and all about the courtyard, some in conversation others merely idling away the time walking to and fro. The Brazilian council was there and when we were called upon I was asked if we wished to remain there or go back to Brazil. I answered for my companion and myself that we did not wish to return but the female slave who was with us said she would return. I have no doubt she would have preferred staying behind but seeing the captain there she was intimidated and afraid to speak her mind and so also was the men but I spoke boldly out that I would rather die than returning to slavery. After a great many questions had been asked us and answered we were taken to a prison as I supposed it was and they're locked up. A few days afterwards we were taken again to the city hall and asked many more questions. We were then taken back to our old quarters the prison house I supposed preparatory to being shipped off again to Brazil but of that I am not sure as I could not understand all the ceremonies of locking us up and unlocking us taking us to the courthouse to ask questions and exhibit us before the audience there assembled. All this was new to me. I therefore could not fully understand the meaning of all this but I feared greatly that we were about to be returned to slavery. I trembled at the thought. Whilst we were again locked up some friends who had interested themselves very much on our behalf contrived a means by which the prison doors were open whilst the keeper slept and we found no difficulty in passing him and gaining once more the pure air of heaven and by the assistance of those dear friends whom I shall never forget I was unable to reach the city of Boston in Massachusetts and remain there under their protection for about four weeks when it was arranged that I should either be sent to England or Haiti and I was consulted on the subject to know which I would prefer and after considering for some time I thought Haiti would be more like the climate of my own country and would agree better with my health and feelings. I did not know exactly what sort of a place England was or perhaps might have preferred to have gone there more particularly as I have since learned that nearly all the English are friends to the colored men in his race and that they have done so much for my people in the way of their welfare and advancement and continue to this day to agitate anti-slavery and every other good cause. As it was, I determined to go to Haiti. Accordingly, a free passage was procured for us and considerable provisions were collected for my use during the voyage. There was on board a colored man of the name of Jones who could speak Spanish very well. During the voyage he took great pains to instruct me and to give me correct ideas of things which I had formed the most absurd notion of. For instance, a person in walking in the sun will see his shadow. The shadow I had been led to believe was the soul of men that I had heard much of and that when the body died the soul went to heaven, that is the shadow and the body went to earth. His explanation of this shadow puzzled me very much. The solution of the mystery pleased me and I began to feel proud of my learning. I worked occasionally for the captain on our passage to Haiti. When I arrived at Haiti, I felt myself free as indeed I was. No slavery exists there, yet all are people of color who dwell there. I did not know a word of their language which was Creole. Neither did I know where to go or what to do. We, however, went to the emperor's house first. He was very kind to us. One of the emperor's generals, Depe by name and a mulatto, gave me plenty to eat and drink and at night allowed me to lay down with his horses in the stables and the mosquitoes tormented me very much. They teased me awfully. He often gave me whiskey and brandy to drink and was every way very kind to me. These favors were though only trifling in themselves under other circumstances to me great indeed considering what my position was. I went about from house to house, a stranger in a strange land and without being able to speak one word of the language of the people in what was worse than all, not a copper in my possession to buy even a loaf to satisfy the cravings of my stomach. At length a colored man from America got me to work for him as cook about his house but he was a very bad man and I did not stay with him very long. At night he took me upstairs and pointed to the floor where I was to sleep although there was a bed in one corner of the room but as soon as his back was turned I got into the bed and slept soundly till morning. When he discovered I had slept in the bed he beat me and knocked me about very much and ordered me not to do the like no more but the next night I did the same thing for which he shook me about and turned me out of doors. So I became again an outcast and wanderer. I slept in the streets for several nights and became sick so that when I walked about I was thought to be drunk as my head was dizzy from the weakness of my system. In this way I went from house to house and the people could not understand but thought I was drunk. After this when General Depey had taken notice of me as before stated my fellow in misfortune went to the Baptist missionary the Reverend Mr. Judd and told him our circumstances stating that we were two slaves from Brazil and asked him if he could not do something for us when he agreed to take me into his service upon which I entered with the most cheerful alacrity. I remained with him upwards of two years and a better mannered Christian than Mr. Judd in my opinion cannot be found. He treated me with every kindness colored to him being no cause of ill treatment. Neither shall I ever forget the kindness of his good lady should behave to me all the time of my servitude even as a Christian should behave. I loved her for her goodness although at times I did not behave even to them as they deserved. I must confess I sometimes treated them rather badly. I had not much gratitude then. I would often get very drunk and be abusive to them but they overlooked my bad behavior always and when Mrs. Judd would try to coax me to go home and behave myself I would fight her and tell her I would not. After my conversion to Christianity I gave up drinking and all other kinds of vices. At the end of that time a stir was made in Haiti to enroll the militia and being opposed to the spirit of war as well as was my master in mistress it was agreed that I should leave Haiti on that account and they provided for me a passage on board a vessel bound to New York in order to educate me preparatory to go into my own people in Africa to preach the gospel of glad tidings of great joy to the ignorant and benighted of my fellow countrymen who are now believers in the false prophet Muhammad. A book published at Arica in the state of New York and entitled Facts for Baptist Churches by Mr. A. T. Foss of New Hampshire and E. Matthews of Wisconsin thus speaks of Muhammad. After enduring the yoke for two years in Brazil he escaped and sought a refuge in this land which boasts of its freedom and philanthropy but that refuge he sought here in vain. Flying therefore from our shores through a kind providence he was conducted to the city of Porto Ponce in Haiti and to the Christian hospitalities of William L. Judd. Our missionary received him gladly and while he provided him a home and temporal comforts he failed not to instruct him in the religion of the gospel. The instruction was to him as life from the dead and his heart felt its power. He saw and acknowledged its adaptiveness to his case as a sinner. He bowed to its authority. He rejoiced in its truth and became a disciple of its divine author. The baptismal scene when Muhammad publicly put his trust in Christ is thus described by Mr. Judd. It is taken from the Christian contributor. His experience before the church was very affecting. Several persons present, not professors of religion wept on hearing it. He is endowed by nature with a soul so noble that he grasps the whole world at a stroke in the movements of his benevolent feelings and the expression of such noble feelings in a style so simple and broken as his is truly affecting. He now seems filled with the most ardent desire to labor for the salvation of souls, talks much of Africa and prays ardently that her people may receive the gospel, dreams often of visiting Kaskwa, accompanied by a good white man, as he calls a missionary, and being kindly received by his mother. He had been asking for baptism a considerable time when I felt that I could not refuse him any longer. We repaired to the seaside very early in the morning, accompanied by a mixed congregation. After singing and praying in French, I delivered the discourse of perhaps 20 minutes, mostly extemporaneous, upon les usages pratiques de l'Ordnance de Baptême, the practical uses of baptism, founded on Romans 6, 1 to 4. After this, I prayed in English for the special benefit of Muhammad. In passing down the gentle descent to reach a sufficient depth of water, I asked him if he wished now to devote himself entirely to God and to the good of the world. He replied, oh yes, Mr. Judd, I want to do all for God, all for good. In the water of the great deep, which in their eternal freedom rolling, bathed Africa as well as Haiti, I buried him with Christ in baptism, hoping that he may yet be born upon its surface as a messenger of mercy to the dark land of his birth. I will give a slight glance at the voyage from Port-au-Pence to New York and relate the incidents connected with it as briefly as possible. We had a most miserable passage, headwinds nearly all the way. Indeed, they continued from our leaving Haiti until reaching a southern port in the United States of America into which we were compelled to run on account of the weather. The wife of Mr. Judd accompanied me on my voyage, she being on a visit to the states where her parents resided. When the vessel put into port, a slave owner came aboard and seeing me asked if I was for sale, remarking I was a likely nigger and would look well skinned as my hide was a little too dark. We encountered at sea very heavy weather, the ship rocking and pitching most fearfully. We had prayers aboard, but we did not fear the raging of the sea as our trust was in him who rested the sea and stilleth the tempest. My mistress was very fond of me and said she did not feel at all uneasy as long as Mahama was near her. She had great confidence in me, not that I could have saved her in case of wreck, but I suppose she felt more at rest knowing me and that I had been about her so long and served her faithfully. The weather, however, soon moderated and we once more set sail again with a fair wind and was soon on our way to the city of New York again where we arrived on a Saturday. On the following day, one of the seamen who had professed great friendship for me during the voyage took it into his head to turn ugly with me. As he was about going ashore, I merely said to him, give my respects to your wife as he had been so kind to me. What I said was intended merely as a little civility when, as I found afterwards, he had been drinking. He took it completely amiss, called me a nigger and swore he would give me a thrashing. At night, when he returned again on board, he was very drunk and behaved with great violence, swearing that he would break my head with a stick which he flourished about over my head. I had placed chairs round the table for supper as usual when he remarked that he did not intend to sit down with a nigger. He afterwards got more calm and sat down and ate like a Christian, but this was not till I had let him see a little of my own ugliness and had threatened to beat him that he became quieted. When he saw I was no longer to be played with, he gave in and became a good man only because he was obliged to. I followed out the scripture injunction to be as wise as serpents and harmless as doves, not at all intending to beat him, merely to quiet him. My wisdom I displayed in the first place, not needing to display any other spirit than an harmless one. In the second, I found my wisdom sufficient for the case at that time. He safely reached the shore at New York and were soon on our way steaming it to Albany, at which place we took the cars to within a short distance of Mrs. Judd's mother's house, which was a little way from a village called Milford in the state of New York. We arrived at Milford early in the following morning and I was sent out to the house whilst Mrs. Judd stood at the tavern to fetch a conveyance to take her on. When I reached her mother's house, I had a mind to impress them with the belief that I was a fugitive, but questions being put to me of a positive nature I could not but give positive answers. I told her I was from Haiti and she immediately conjectured who I was as accounts were often sent to her from her daughter in papers printed there and she asked me if I was Mohama. I said I was. She wanted to know how I got to America who had brought me here. I had once told her when orders were immediately given for horses and I returned for my mistress who was soon once more in the embraces of a kind, good mother. Mother and child had once again met after seas had separated them so great a distance. I remained there about four weeks then went to Meredith in Delaware County amongst the free missions to see whether they would undertake the task of educating me when they agreed at once to do so. A gentleman by the name of Dalton was exceedingly kind to me and undertook my case with the friends of the missions. They then sent me on to McGrawville at the time C. B. Grosvenor was the president of the college who was very kind to me and made much of me treating me in every way as an equal and a gentleman. I remained nearly three years in the college and during that time made very great progress in learning before leaving the college. My teacher, Ms. K. King, composed the following lines which were spoken by me before the primary department of the college. Lines spoken by Muhammad. You can't expect one of my race with woolly hair and sable face and scarce array of knowledge to interest his friends at college but I will do the best I can to prove I mean to be a man. It is true my limbs have feathers worn. It is true my back the scorch has borne but it is not true that tyrant's power air made my heart within me cower. No, that was free as when I played beneath my native palm tree's shade. Oh, Africa, my native land, when shall I see thee meekly stand beneath the banner of my God and governed by his holy word? When shall I see the oppressor's rod plucked from his hand by gracious God? Oh, when shall I, my brethren, see and joy the suites of liberty? Friends of the crushed and bleeding slave ask God to pity, God to save. For all the help of man is vain since man for man has forged a chain. O write his father, thou art just to thee I look, to thee I trust. Oh, may thy gracious spirit bear the afric's groan, the afric's prayer. Up to thy spotless throne above where all is joy and peace and love. For Jesus' sake, oh, save the oppressed and leather souls in heaven find rest. Whilst at college, some of the young gentlemen there who did not altogether like my collar played considerable many practical jokes upon me and tried to make me some mischief with the principles. They played all sorts of tricks upon me. They would, when I was out of the way, scatter my books and papers all over the room and pile up my books in a heap. They would also choke up my stovepipe with shaving so that when I attempted to make a fire, the room would become filled with smoke. But off these matters, I had only to complain in the right quarter and all would be settled. But I did not like to be continually complaining of them, so I endured a great deal of their vexatious tricks and silence. I could not tell why they plagued me thus, accepting they did not like my collar and that they thought I was a good subject upon which to expand their frolicsome humor. After I left the college, I went to the free missions with whom I remained a short time and received more learning from that source. I went to school at Freetown Corner under the direction of the missions. I lived with my teacher, working occasionally for my board during my stay here. I had a room to myself and being cold weather, I always needed a fire. But being no place for the stovepipe to go into a chimney, a lady suggested that I should take a pane of glass from the window and put the pipe through the aperture, which I did. And it answered the purpose very well indeed until a very windy day came when the wind blowing down the pipe caused my room to be filled with smoke. How to remedy the evil? I could not exactly tell, but an ingenious thought struck me. I went to the closet and procured a large flat candlestick, which I took outside and placed over the pipe, the candlestick being placed shank downwards. This answered the purpose well enough so far as keeping the wind out, but at dark my room was filled with the choking smoke as bad as ever. The remedy was as bad as the disease. I had not calculated upon the smoke escaping. I had imagined that the wind getting into the pipe prevented the smoke getting out. Consequently, my plan was to adopt some method to keep the wind out, which I did most effectively. The sequel is known. Thus, a man may acquire knowledge piece by piece and in some things become very clever, but notwithstanding, may become entangled in his ideas with the simplest thing imaginable. Cleverer and wiser men than Mahama have done even more foolish things than this. After this, I returned to McRovill for a short time, and having a desire to see the manners and customs of the people living under the government of Queen Victoria, of whom I had heard so much, induced me to go to Canada, where I remained a short time and being so well pleased with the reception I there met with, I had once determined to become a subject of her majesty, for which purpose I attended at the proper office, gave the oath of allegiance and procured my papers of naturalization without any difficulty. I was kindly treated by all classes wherever I went, and must say in my heart, I never expected to receive in a nation so distant from my native home so much kindness, attention and humanity. I am thankful to God that I enjoy the blessings of liberty in peace and tranquility, and that I am now in a land where none dare make me afraid, where every man can or may sit down under his own vine and under his own fig tree, where every man acting as a man, no matter what his color is regarded as a brother, and where all are equally free to do and to say. Being thus surrounded by friends and enabled to enjoy the blessing of peaceful freedom, I came to the conclusion that the time had arrived when I might with propriety commit to paper all that has been recounted in this work, and whenever the day may come that a way may be open to me of being useful in the regeneration of my own loved country, I shall be ready to say I come, and may God in his infinite wisdom hasten that day is the constant and fervent prayer of the subscriber, whose sufferings and tortures it is to be hoped have so further opened the ears and hearts of sensibility. Should a call be given him to return once more to the land of his birth, he will cheerfully respond, and his sure friends will not be wanting to aid him in his benevolent purpose. Mahama, Gardal, Bakwakwa. Prayer of the oppressed. O great Jehovah, God of love, thou monarch of the earth and sky, canst thou from thy great throne above look down with an impitying eye. See Africa's sons and daughters toil, day after day, year after year, upon this blood-but-moistened soil, and through their cries turn a deaf ear. Canst thou the white oppressor bless with verdant hills and fruitful plains, regardless of the slave's distress, unmindful of the black man's chains? How long, O Lord, are thou wilt speak in thy almighty, thundering voice to bid the oppressor's fetters break and Ethiopia's sons rejoice? How long shall slavery's iron grip and prejudice's guilty hand send forth like bloodhounds from the slip, fouler persecutions o'er the land? How long shall puny mortals dare to violate thy just decree and force their fellow men to wear the galling chain on land and sea? Hasten, O Lord, the glorious time when everywhere beneath the skies from every land and every climb peens to liberty shall rise when the bright sun of liberty shall shine o'er each despotic land and all mankind from bondage free adore the wonders of thy hand? End of section eight. End of biography of Muhammad Jibakwaqa by Samuel Moore.