(Continuing from Part 06)
As the Portuguese ship approached our little boat, I felt an enormous sense of relief.
For many days, Xury and I had traveled along the African coast, uncertain whether we would ever reach safety.
Now a large European ship was coming toward us.
The sailors called out in several languages, including Portuguese, Spanish, and French. I could not understand them.
Finally, a Scottish sailor aboard the ship spoke to me in English.
I explained that I was an Englishman who had escaped from captivity in Salé.
The sailors listened with surprise.
They lowered a boat and helped us aboard.
The captain was a kind and generous Portuguese man. When he heard my story, he promised to carry me safely to Brazil.
I was deeply grateful.
I offered him everything I owned, including my small boat, as payment for rescuing us.
But he refused to take advantage of my situation.
“I have saved your life,” he explained. “It would be wrong to take away everything you possess.”
He told me that if he were ever in the same position, he would hope someone would treat him with kindness.
His words impressed me.
The captain agreed to carry me to Brazil without charging me for the journey.
He also offered to buy my boat.
He paid me eighty pieces of eight for it, which was a considerable sum of money.
Then he offered sixty more for the lion’s skin.
I accepted both offers.
The captain also wanted to buy Xury.
At first, I refused.
Xury had helped me escape, remained loyal during our dangerous journey, and trusted me completely.
I felt that selling him would be a cruel reward for his friendship.
However, the captain offered a condition.
He promised that Xury would receive his freedom after ten years, provided that he became a Christian.
When Xury agreed, I accepted the arrangement.
I was troubled by the decision, but I persuaded myself that the captain would treat him well.
Looking back, this was one of the morally troubling choices I made. Xury had helped save my life, yet I accepted money in exchange for his service.
After this, we continued toward Brazil.
The voyage was peaceful.
After approximately twenty-two days, we reached the coast of Brazil.
I thanked the captain for his generosity and prepared to begin a new life.
I had escaped slavery, survived the dangers of the African coast, and reached a country where I might become successful.
But I did not know what occupation I should follow.
Fortunately, the captain continued helping me.
He introduced me to a man who owned a sugar plantation.
I stayed with this man for some time and learned how sugar was grown and prepared for sale.
I discovered that plantation owners could earn large profits if they managed their land carefully.
Many European settlers had come to Brazil for this purpose.
Some had become wealthy by growing sugar and tobacco.
I began to think that I could do the same.
With the money I had received from the captain, I purchased a small piece of land.
I planned to establish my own plantation.
At first, I had very little equipment and few workers.
I needed tools, seeds, and many other supplies.
My neighbor, a Portuguese man named Wells, was also beginning a plantation.
He had been born in Lisbon, but his parents were English.
Because we were both new plantation owners, we became friends.
We often discussed our difficulties and helped each other when possible.
During the first two years, I grew mostly food for my own needs.
I planted crops and worked hard to improve my land.
The work was difficult, especially because I had limited help.
Sometimes I remembered my father’s advice.
He had wanted me to live a comfortable, moderate life in England.
Now, after so many dangerous adventures, I was working on a farm in Brazil.
I had traveled thousands of miles only to become a farmer.
The thought seemed almost ridiculous.
If I had stayed in England, I might have achieved the same result without risking my life.
Still, I was determined to succeed.
As my plantation improved, I began growing tobacco and sugarcane.
I soon realized that I needed more tools and supplies from Europe.
Then I remembered the money I had left in England.
Before my second voyage to Africa, I had entrusted two hundred pounds to the widow of my first captain.
She had promised to keep it safe.
I wondered whether I could arrange to have some of that money sent to Brazil.
I wrote a letter to the widow, explaining what had happened to me.
I described my capture by pirates, my escape, and my arrival in Brazil.
I also asked her to use part of my money to purchase goods that would be useful for my plantation.
I requested tools, clothing, and other supplies.
I gave the letter to the Portuguese captain, who was preparing to return to Europe.
He promised to help me.
Once again, I was fortunate to have such an honest friend.
Several months later, the captain returned to Brazil.
He brought wonderful news.
The widow had received my letter and was delighted to learn that I was alive.
She had followed my instructions and purchased the supplies I requested.
The captain had also arranged for the goods to be transported safely.
Among the supplies were tools, cloth, and other useful articles.
He had even brought an indentured servant to help me work on my plantation.
These things were extremely valuable.
With better equipment and additional labor, I could expand my farm much more quickly.
I thanked the captain repeatedly.
His honesty and generosity had helped me establish a secure future.
Over the following years, my plantation became increasingly successful.
I learned more about agriculture, trade, and the management of land.
My crops improved, and my income grew.
I began to believe that I might eventually become a wealthy man.
Yet something was still missing.
Although I had achieved much of what my father had wanted for me, I remained restless.
I could not completely forget my desire for travel and adventure.
And soon, that weakness would lead me toward the greatest disaster of my life.