Mundus: A Theological Account: A Dįvonësë Chronicle

Chapter 4 - An Aside On the Subject of Slavery and the Reversion

It should be understood that most of what follows are third and fourth-hand accounts; the work of much study, archeological and historical research, and educated supposition by the Covenant's archival prefects and their most accomplished apostles. This alongside of more recent recordings made after the Era of Renovations. A period in time that stretched from the signing of the Manumission Memorandum in the year of our Lady, 2618 A.G.G. to the year of our Lady, 2629 A.G.G.

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Selection from an Audio Interview with Former Slave Ship Captain, Kofi Azibo of the Pastora

Recorded on the Second Day of Erele in the Second Month of Life's Warmth at Mid-Day, 2631 A.G.G.43 Minutes and 56 seconds Into Interview

ASHANTI:

"Captain Azibo, I've never understood how your lot were able to capture so many Assamians with so few men and limited arms. You only had what you could carry on the ship, after all."

CAPTAIN KOFI:

"Dat's not far from true. Some capin's hulls were heavy wid coin to trade fo da tea and smooth fabrics from dem in Murrlel. And whatever room left, day cram up wid slaves. No extra room fo mo arms. I's was no mo different, even tho I had different weight. We never would have made it far if de "Samians wasn't up for selling demselves to us. Too many of 'em to take alone. Der was always some of de tribe leaders who wouldn't trade wit us. But we ain't give a damn bout dem. De ones who made der home on de coast made out plenty good in trade.

"We always had our hull filled more with de cloths, ironstuffs and wines dan weapons. Had to have sometin' to trade to the 'Samians for slaves. Widout all dat to swap wid to de 'Samian middlemen-"

ASHANTI:

"Middlemen? You mean the local traders and whatnot?"

CAPTAIN KOFI:

"Yea yea. We could never've hoped to get more dan a few. Specaly with de dog-folk. Day was more dan a handful wid de way they'd claw thru you."

ASHANTI:

"Fox."

CAPTAIN KOFI:

"Say you wut now?"

ASHANTI:

"The ma'jong. They're fox-kin. Not dogs."

CAPTAIN KOFI:

"Sure. If dat what you like. Careful not to let yo heart bleed on de floor."

ASHANTI:

"Does that bother you for some reason? To be told to correct yourself over a factual truth about a people you've spent your life dehumanizing? People you forced to suffer elephantiasis, dysentery, dropsy, fevers, digestive diseases and Goddess knows what else in the bowels of your...disease-ridden ship?"

CAPTAIN KOFI:

A dry laugh that sounds like the captain can be heard on the recording. "Look, Ms. Ashuntee Fargee-"

ASHANTI:

"-Ashanti Faraji."

CAPTAIN KOFI:

"Whatev' you say. You drink da coffe' everyday?"

ASHANTI:

"Sure."