King was a kind master, and Equiano worked diligently and cheerfully for him. Doran in turn sold Equiano to Robert King, a wealthy and benevolent Quaker merchant who worked out of Philadelphia.
Equiano was devastated, but tried to resign himself to God’s will. Unfortunately, Pascal learning of Equiano's ambition, and cruelly sold him to Captain Doran of the Charming Sally. Through his ability at sea, he became indispensable to Pascal and became accustomed to his situation.Įquiano began to think of freedom, and hoped that Pascal might one day allow it. During this time, Equiano heard about the Christian God and started learning to read and write. Pascal had intended him as a gift for friends in London, but instead kept Equiano as an aid towards his naval endeavors during the Seven Years’ War. He was purchased quickly enough by Michael Henry Pascal, a lieutenant in the Royal Navy. After being brought across Africa to the coast, he was sent to the West Indies via the horrific Middle Passage.
While young children, he and his sister were seized by kidnappers and sold to slave traders. He was born in the Eboe province of Africa, and provides cultural detail on those people. Equiano begins his first-person narrative by including several letters that attest to both the veracity of his text and his good character.
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