In his dying fever dream, the slave has magnificent visions of himself as a king back in his ancestral homelands. In the waking world, the slave occupies the very lowest rung of society. But in his dreams, he's a king. And as a king, he's proud and happy as he stands tall among the palm trees by the River Niger, where he his lovingly embraced by his queen and their children.

The slave rides along the banks of the Niger on his magnificent stallion, his scabbard of steel smacking rhythmically against the horse's flank. The horse's bridle-chains are made of gold, indicating once more the slave's noble status as he dreams of life in the land of his ancestors.

As he continues to ride along the river bank, the slave's senses are overpowered by the beauties of nature: the crowd of bright flamingoes, the plains where the tamarind grow, and the mighty roar of the lion resounding throughout the night sky. The forest's chattering chorus of animal voices speaks of freedom, a freedom that the slave's ancestors once enjoyed but which is now denied to him as he lies there dying beside a pile of ungathered rice with a cruel slave-driver standing over him with a whip.