Historical Background 

Montserrat is a British territory located in the Caribbean. Irishmen from nearby Saint Kitts settled the island in 1632. Shortly thereafter, they were followed by settlers from Virginia. And in 1661, the Island was captured and duly claimed by the English — their control was codified under the Treaty of Breda. The English used the island for a nefarious purpose: to transport Sub-Saharan African slaves.

More recently, however, in 1995, a large volcano, the Soufrière Hills volcano, on the southern end of island became active. The volcano erupted and destroyed the capital city of the island, Plymouth, displacing two thirds of the population. An exclusion zone has since been placed over the southern half of the island. 

In-Text 

In the “Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano,” Montserrat is mentioned a number of times. In chapter 5, “on the 14th of February 1763,” he landed on Montserrat to see its “regions of sorrow, doleful shades, where peace / And rest can rarely dwell.” In other words, he bore witness to the island as an engine perpetuating the abhorrent practice of slavery to which he was subjected. Also in chapter 5, he recounts having known a man named Emanuel Sankey while on Montserrat. He describes, in startiling and shameful detail, how Sankey was abused after resolving to “escape from his miserable bondage" on the island to freedom.