d it was against the law for me
to go ashore. The mayor of the city said I had been among the cursed
Yankees too long; he asked me whether I did not know that it was
unlawful for me to land, to which I replied, that I did not know it,
for I could neither read nor write. The merchants for whom I had
formerly done business came on board, and said they cared for neither
the mare (mayor) nor the horse, and insisted that I should go ashore.
I told the mayor the business on which I came, and he gave me leave to
stay nine days, telling me that if I were not gone in that time, he
would sell me for the good of the state.

I offered my boy's master the $300; he counted the money, but put it
back to me, refusing to take less than $450. I went on board to return
to Boston. We met with head winds, and put back three times to
Norfolk, anchoring each time just opposite the jail. The nine days had
expired, and I feared the mayor would find me on board and sell me. I
could see the jail, full of colored people, and even the
whipping-post, at which they were constantly enduring the lash. While
we were lying there by the jail, two vessels came from Eastern Shore,
Virginia, laden with cattle and colored people. The cattle were lowing
for their calves, and the men and women were crying for their
husbands, wives, or children. The cries and groans were terrible,
notwithstanding there was a whipper on board each vessel, trying to
compel the poor creatures to keep silence. These vessels lay close to
ours. I had been a long time away from such scenes; the sight affected
me very much, and added greatly to my fears.

One day I saw a boat coming from the shore with white men in it. I
thought they were officers coming to take me; and such was my horror
of slavery, that I twice ran to the ship's waist to jump overboard
into the strong ebb tide then running, to drown myself; but a strong
impression on my mind restrained me each time.

Once more we got under way for New York; but, meeting again with head
winds, we ran into Maurice's River, in Delaware Bay. New Jersey, in
which that place lies, is not a slave state. So I said to the captain,
'Let me have a boat, and set me on the free land once more; then I
will travel home over land; for I will not run the risk of going back
to Virginia any more. The captain said there was no danger, but I
exclaimed, 'No, no! captain, I will not try it; put my feet on free
land once again, and I shall be safe.' When