Topic Model: Equiano's Interesting Narrative

Words

africa gustavus slave vassa life event coast years woman sister reader father named lordship success governor fortune assembly punished inhabitants manners memorialist lord related hand countrymen country bishop set attended story nation believed uncommon public customs humbly missionary aforesaid resided encouraged presents trifling incident late tedious plan impression effect

[100%] That your memorialist is a native of Africa, and has a knowledge of the manners and customs of the inhabitants of that country. [¶ 201 of 271]

[100%] I have the honour to be,� � � � � � My Lord,� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � Your Lordship's� � � � � � � � Humble and obedient servant,� � � � MATT. MACNAMARA. [¶ 208 of 271]

[91.67%] This letter was also accompanied by the following from Doctor Wallace, who had resided in Africa for many years, and whose sentiments on the subject of an African mission were the same with Governor Macnamara's. [¶ 210 of 271]

[91.3%] I have resided near five years on Senegambia on the coast of Africa, and have had the honour of filling very considerable employments in that province. I do approve of the within plan, and think the undertaking very laudable and proper, and that it deserves your Lordship's protection and encouragement, in which case it must be attended with the intended success. [¶ 213 of 271]

[85%] Your memorialist's only motive for soliciting the office of a missionary is, that he may be a means, under God, of reforming his countrymen and persuading them to embrace the Christian religion. Therefore your memorialist humbly prays your Lordship's encouragement and support in the undertaking. [¶ 204 of 271]

[78.38%] That your memorialist is desirous of returning to Africa as a missionary, if encouraged by your Lordship, in hopes of being able to prevail upon his countrymen to become Christians; and your memorialist is the more induced to undertake the same, from the success that has attended the like undertakings when encouraged by the Portuguese through their different settlements on the coast of Africa, and also by the Dutch: both governments encouraging the blacks, who, by their education are qualified to undertake the same, and are found more proper than European clergymen, unacquainted with the language and customs of the country. [¶ 203 of 271]

[76.19%] Such were the various scenes which I was a witness to, and the fortune I experienced until the year 1777. Since that period my life has been more uniform, and the incidents of it fewer, than in any other equal number of years preceding; I therefore hasten to the conclusion of a narrative, which I fear the reader may think already sufficiently tedious. [¶ 196 of 271]

[76.19%] I have resided near seven years on the coast of Africa, for most part of the time as commanding officer. From the knowledge I have of the country and its inhabitants, I am inclined to think that the within plan will be attended with great success, if countenanced by your Lordship. I beg leave further to represent to your Lordship, that the like attempts, when encouraged by other governments, have met with uncommon success; and at this very time I know a very respectable character a black priest at Cape Coast Castle. I know the within named Gustavus Vassa, and believe him a moral good man. [¶ 207 of 271]

[76.19%] My sole motive for thus dwelling on this transaction, or inserting these papers, is the opinion which gentlemen of sense and education, who are acquainted with Africa, entertain of the probability of converting the inhabitants of it to the faith of Jesus Christ, if the attempt were countenanced by the legislature. [¶ 216 of 271]

[75.9%] We are almost a nation of dancers, musicians, and poets. Thus every great event, such as a triumphant return from battle, or other cause of public rejoicing is celebrated in public dances, which are accompanied with songs and music suited to the occasion. The assembly is separated into four divisions, which dance either apart or in succession, and each with a character peculiar to itself. The first division contains the married men, who in their dances frequently exhibit feats of arms, and the representation of a battle. To these succeed the married women, who dance in the second division. The young men occupy the third; and the maidens the fourth. Each represents some interesting scene of real life, such as a great achievement, domestic employment, a pathetic story, or some rural sport; and as the subject is generally founded on some recent event, it is therefore ever new. This gives our dances a spirit and variety which I have scarcely seen elsewhere[B]. We have many musical instruments, particularly drums of different kinds, a piece of music which resembles a guitar, and another much like a stickado. These last are chiefly used by betrothed virgins, who play on them on all grand festivals. [¶ 4 of 271]

[73.68%] '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. [¶ 190 of 271]

[71.43%] I am,� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � My Lord,� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � Your Lordship's� � � � � � � � Humble and obedient servant,� � � � THOMAS WALLACE. [¶ 214 of 271]