Tatnai was enslaved in Northfield, Massachusetts by Capt. Samuel Hunt, who farmed and kept a tavern and store. From"Slavery in Massachusetts" by Phineas Field, in the History & Proceedings PVMA Assn., V. 1, pg. 482:
It was discovered that Tatnai was fond of raw eggs, and having a capacious mouth, the boys would occasionally toss in an egg to see him "craunch" it, shell and all. On one occasion, after having baited him well, Dick secured a rotten egg, and waited on the fence of the west lot for Tat's return from the meadow, where he had gone for a load of hay. When opposite, Dick hailed him. (I give it as Dick related it to me.) "Tat, don't you want an egg?" "Yes." "Come this way then and get it. (Tat came to the fence.) Open your face wide and give it a good craunch. I tossed it in; and Oh! he puked a stream bigger'n my arm! I put for the meadow hill and got out of his way. Tat was mad, and swore he'd kill me. I darsn't go on the street in the evening for a fortnight. I couldn't stand that, so I got the boys to negotiate for me, by telling Tat I was sorry and it was an accident, and I would give him a quart of rum to make up. The offer was accepted, so that Dick and Tat were friends again.