Historical map of Brazil
"New Chart of Brazil of Portuguese America, year 1821"
Friday, April 25, 2014
Biography of African-born slave Mahommah
The primary source document I have examined for this analysis of Brazilian slavery accounts the life of Mahommah Baquaqua through his journey across the Atlantic in the early 1800's. Born in the interior of Africa, Mahommah was captured, sold into slavery, and traveled overseas to several areas, including a brief period of enslavement in Brazil. The story of Mahommah is very fascinating, as his oral history gave detailed descriptions of the brutality he faced as a person owned by someone else. Particularly in Brazil, Mahommah dealt with beatings, deprivation of food and water, and grueling labor in scorching conditions.
Mahommah recounts the terrible beatings that he endured if his owner was not pleased with his days work, and frequently mentions that death would be more desirable than continuing life as a slave. After a failed attempt at running away, only to be returned to his angered master, Mahommah feels desperation to end his terrible situation.
One particular night is recounted by Mahommah, " I at last made up my mind to drown myself; I would rather die than live to be a slave. I then ran down to the river and threw myself in, but being seen by some persons who were in a boat, I was rescued from drowning" (p. 46). After the suicide attempt, Mahommah mentioned that he was grateful that it was unsuccessful.
Despite these many obstacles, Mahommah was a man of God, a convert to Christianity who never lost faith in his fight for freedom. After spending close to three years in slavery in Brazil in various regions, Mahommah receives an opportunity to travel to New York, a city in a free land, where he heard that slavery does not exist.
One of the most interesting parts of this account is Mahommah's strong reaction to the thought of being free. He accounts, "That was that the happiest time in my life, even now my heart thrills with joyous delight when I think of that voyage, and believe that the God of all mercies ordered all for my good; how thankful was I"(p.52).
Mahommah is clear in his message that the hope of one day breaking out of the bondage of slavery was the most important dream of his entire life.
