Preferring death to such a life of misery.

[**The following is a firsthand account of an African American who, after being taken as a slave by neighboring Africans, was later sold to slave traders and shipped to America. This account is in regards to life on a slave ship. His name was [Gustavus Vassa](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d2/Olaudah_Equiano%2C_frontpiece_from_The_Interesting_Narrative_of_the_Life_of_Olaudah_Equiano.png). He was born in Benin in 1745 and was kidnapped and made a slave when he was 11 years old. He spent four years in servitude in Africa before being sold to be shipped overseas.**] >One days when we had a smooth sea and moderate wind, two of my wearied countrymen who were chained together (I was near them at the time), preferring death to such a life of misery somehow made through the nettings and jumped into the sea: immediately another quite dejected fellow, who on account of his illness was suffered to be out of irons, also followed their example and I believe many more would very soon have done the same if they had not been prevented by the ship's crew who were instantly alarmed. ______________________________ **Source:** Stephens, John Richard. “Victims of History.” *Weird History 101: Tales of Intrigue, Mayhem, and Outrageous Behavior*. New York: Barnes & Noble, 2006. 157. Print. ______________________________ **Further Reading:** [Olaudah Equiano / Gustavus Vassa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olaudah_Equiano)