Final answer:
Olaudah Equiano was taken aboard the slave ship as part of the transatlantic slave trade. Refusal to accept food or water by slaves was met with force to ensure they remained salable. Equiano's horrific experiences contributed to his later abolitionist efforts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The slave trader brought Olaudah Equiano to the ship as part of the transatlantic slave trade, where Africans were captured and sold to Europeans. Once aboard the slave ship, conditions were deplorable, with little ventilation, unsanitary facilities, and inadequate provisions. Equiano described the misery of the Middle Passage, where the enslaved individuals were given food and water scarcely, potentially leading to rebellion or attempts. If slaves like Equiano refused to eat or drink, as a form of resistance or due to despondency, they were often forced or coerced into doing so to maintain their sale value. The terror and brutality faced by Equiano and countless others during the Middle Passage were instrumental in his later advocacy for the abolition of the slave trade.