The prisoners that were captured in these "wars" were made to live as slaves and were occasionally sold or traded to outsiders; however, "they did no more work than other members of the community". "Their food, cloathing, and lodging were nearly the same" and in fact, "some of the slaves have even slaves under them" (40). It cannot be argued that this is benevolent treatment, to hold a man against his will, though they undoubtedly were living under better conditions than even a prisoner of war might today. Still yet the perception of slavery to a young boy, as in Equiano's case, was not too cruel. It was a fate reserved for those who were guilty of crimes against other members of the community or the province as a whole, and justifiably so. .
As Olaudah would soon discover slavery as he knew it was a far cry from the heartless, oppressive and abusive version the white man had created. At age eleven, while left unattended by any adults, both Olaudah and his sister were kidnapped by two white men and a woman, taken from their home in Eboe, never to see their family again. The white man's version of slavery would soon become a nightmare-like reality. The next day the two siblings were separated and for the next ten years Olaudah would live a life of uncertain misery. Each time he would begin to reconcile with his present situation, as undesirable it may be, he would be "awakened out of (his) reverie to fresh sorrow, and hurried away" (53), only to be thrown into a new master's world of oppression, with new fears. Although, Equiano's masters generally treated him well in comparison to his fellow slaves, who's owners commonly flogged them for things as menial as allowing water to boil over, he paid witness to many inhumane events, and heard of even worse. He was in constant fear of being sold to "human butchers, who cut and mangled the slaves in a shocking manner on the most trifling occasions, and altogether treat them in every respect like brutes.
