through the day and into the night the slaves searched for him, but to no avail. that night, when the sky was at its darkest, there was a huge, bright star in the sky whose rays shone a column of daylight onto the pier.  

over those minutes which felt like hours, the slaves saw joão saudade, kneeling at the waters edge in prayer. when the darkness returned, he was gone, along with the low star in the sky.

as the legend goes, it was yemanjá, so moved by the immense longing and faithful dedication of joão that she sprung him from bondage and granted him a place in heaven.