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t, a surf struck us, and drove the boat and all
in it about half a stone's throw, among some trees, and above the high
water mark. We were obliged to get all the assistance we could from
the nearest estate to mend the boat, and launch it into the water
again. At Montserrat one night, in pressing hard to get off the shore
on board, the punt was overset with us four times; the first time I
was very near being drowned; however the jacket I had on kept me up
above water a little space of time, while I called on a man near me
who was a good swimmer, and told him I could not swim; he then made
haste to me, and, just as I was sinking, he caught hold of me, and
brought me to sounding, and then he went and brought the punt also. As
soon as we had turned the water out of her, lest we should be used ill
for being absent, we attempted again three times more, and as often
the horrid surfs served us as at first; but at last, the fifth time we
attempted, we gained our point, at the imminent hazard of our lives.
One day also, at Old Road in Montserrat, our captain, and three men
besides myself, were going in a large canoe in quest of rum and sugar,
when a single surf tossed the canoe an amazing distance from the
water, and some of us even a stone's throw from each other: most of us
were very much bruised; so that I and many more often said, and really
thought, that there was not such another place under the heavens as
this. I longed therefore much to leave it, and daily wished to see my
master's promise performed of going to Philadelphia. While we lay in
this place a very cruel thing happened on board of our sloop which
filled me with horror; though I found afterwards such practices were
frequent. There was a very clever and decent free young mulatto-man
who sailed a long time with us: he had a free woman for his wife, by
whom he had a child; and she was then living on shore, and all very
happy. Our captain and mate, and other people on board, and several
elsewhere, even the natives of Bermudas, all knew this young man from
a child that he was always free, and no one had ever claimed him as
their property: however, as might too often overcomes right in these
parts, it happened that a Bermudas captain, whose vessel lay there for
a few days in the road, came on board of us, and seeing the
mulatto-man, whose name was Joseph Clipson, he told him he was not
free, and that he had orders from his master to bring him to Bermudas.
The poor man could not believe the captain to be in earnest; but he
was very soon undeceived, his men laying violent hands on him: and
although he shewed a certificate of his being born free in St. Kitt's,
and most people on board knew that he served his time to boat
building, and always passed for a free man, yet he was taken forcibly
out of our vessel. He then asked to be carried ashore before the
secretary or magistrates, and these infernal invaders of human rights
promised him he should; but, instead of that, they carried him on
board of the other vessel: and the next day, without giving the poor
man any hearing on shore, or suffering him even to see his wife or
child, he was carried away, and probably doomed never more in this
world to see them again. Nor was this the only instance of this kind
of barbarity I was a witness to. I have since often seen in Jamaica
and other islands free men, whom I have known in America, thus
villainously trepanned and held in bondage. I have heard of two
similar practices even in Philadelphia: and were it not for the
benevolence of the quakers in that city many of the sable race, who
now breathe the air of liberty, would, I believe, be groaning indeed
under some planter's chains. These things opened my mind to a new
scene of horror to which I had been before a stranger. Hitherto I had
thought only slavery dreadful; but the state of a free negro appeared
to me now equally so at least, and in some respects even worse, for
they live in constant alarm for their liberty; and even this is but
nominal, for they are universally insulted and plundered without the
possibility of redress; for such is the equity of the West Indian
laws, that no free negro's evidence will be admitted in their courts
of justice. In this situation is it surprising that slaves, when
mildly treated, should prefer even the misery of slavery to such a
mockery of freedom? I was now completely disgusted with the West
Indies, and thought I never should be entirely free until I had left
them.

 "With thoughts like these my anxious boding mind
 Recall'd those pleasing scenes I left behind;
 Scenes where fair Liberty in bright array
 Makes darkness bright, and e'en illumines day;
 Where nor complexion, wealth, or station, can
 Protect the wretch who makes a slave of man."

I determined to make every exertion to obtain my freedom, and to
return to Old England. For this purpose I thought a knowledge of
navigation might be of use to me; for, though I did not intend to run
away unless I should be ill used, yet, in such a case, if I understood
navigation, I might attempt my escape in our sloop, which was one of
the swiftest sailing vessels in the West Indies, and I could be at no
loss for hands to join me: and if I should make this attempt, I had
intended to have gone for England; but this, as I said, was only to be
in the event of my meeting with any ill usage. I therefore employed
the mate of our vessel to teach me navigation, for which I agreed to
give him twenty-four dollars, and actually paid him part of the money
down; though when the captain, some time after, came to know that the
mate was to have such a sum for teaching me, he rebuked him, and said
it was a shame for him to take any money from me. However, my
progress in this useful art was much retarded by the constancy of our
work. Had I wished to run away I did not want opportunities, which
frequently presented themselves; and particularly at one time, soon
after this. When we were at the island of Gaurdeloupe there was a
large fleet of merchantmen bound for Old France; and, seamen then
being very scarce, they gave from fifteen to twenty pounds a man for
the run. Our mate, and all the white sailors, left our vessel on this
account, and went on board of the French ships. They would have had me
also to go with them, for they regarded me; and they swore to protect
me, if I would go: and, as the fleet was to sail the next day, I
really believe I could have got safe to Europe at that time. However,
as my master was kind, I would not attempt to leave him; and,
remembering the old maxim, that 'honesty is the best policy,' I
suffered them to go without me. Indeed my captain was much afraid of
my leaving him and the vessel at that time, as I had so fair an
opportunity: but, I thank God, this fidelity of mine turned out much
to my advantage hereafter, when I did not in the least think of it;
and made me so much in favour with the captain, that he used now and
then to teach me some parts of navigation himself: but some of our

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