Question

Read the excerpt and answer the question that follows.

The first object which saluted my eyes when I arrived on the coast was the sea, and a slave ship, which was then riding at anchor, and waiting for its cargo. These filled me with astonishment, which was soon converted into terror when I was carried on board. I was immediately handled and tossed up to see if I were sound by some of the crew; and I was now persuaded that I had gotten into a world of bad spirits, and that they were going to kill me. Their complexions too differing so much from ours, their long hair, and the language they spoke, (which was very different from any I had ever heard) united to confirm me in this belief.

What were some of the differences Equiano observed between himself and the crew on the slave ship?

Answer 1

The crew on the slave ship that Equiano boarded was European. He observed that the crew had fair complexions and long hair. The crew members were mostly English, Dutch, Portuguese, or Spanish. He couldn’t understand their language.

Step-by-step explanation:

Answer 2

The first thing he saw when he reached the shore was a slave ship that was waiting for cargo. He was surprised until he was taken on board and treated as if he was a slave.