Though, as Oroonoko afterwards said, he had little reason to
credit the words of a Backearay, yet he knew not why, but he saw a
kind of sincerity and awful truth in the face of Trefry; he saw an
honesty in his eyes, and he found him wise and witty enough to
understand honor: for it was one of his maxims, A man of wit could not
be a knave or villain.
In their passage up the river they put in at several houses for
refreshment; and ever when they landed, numbers of people would
flock to behold this man: not but their eyes were daily entertained
with the sight of slaves, but the fame of Oroonoko was gone before
him, and all people were in admiration of his beauty. Besides, he
had a rich habit on, in which he was taken, so different from the
rest, and which the captain could not strip him of, because he was
forced to surprise his person in the minute he sold him. When he found
his habit made him liable, as he thought, to be gazed at the more,
he begged Trefry to give him something more befitting a slave, which
he did, and took off his robes: nevertheless he shone through all, and
his osenbrigs (a sort of brown Holland suit he had on) could not
conceal the graces of his looks and mien; and he had no less
admirers than when he had his dazzling habit on: the royal youth
appeared in spite of the slave, and people could not help treating him
after a different manner, without designing it. As soon as they
approached him, they venerated and esteemed him; his eyes insensibly
commanded respect, and his behavior insinuated it into every soul.
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