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Barbados and the Rise of Sugar

Barbados and the Rise of Sugar. From Alexander Pope’s Rape of the Lock

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Barbados and the Rise of Sugar

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  1. Barbados and the Rise of Sugar

  2. From Alexander Pope’s Rape of the Lock 117      'Twas then Belinda, if report say true, 118      Thy eyes first open'd on a Billet-doux; 119      Wounds, Charms, and Ardors, were no sooner read, 120      But all the Vision vanish'd from thy head. 121      And now, unveil'd, the Toilet stands display'd, 122      Each silver Vase in mystic order laid. 123      First, robe'd in white, the nymph intent adores 124      With head uncover'd, the Cosmetic pow'rs. 125      A heav'nly Image in the glass appears, 126      To that she bends, to that her eyes she rears; 127      Th'inferior Priestess, at her altar's side, 128      Trembling, begins the sacred rites of Pride. 129      Unnumber'd treasures ope at once, and here 130      The various off'rings of the world appear; 131      From each she nicely culls with curious toil, 132      And decks the Goddess with the glitt'ring spoil. 133      This casket India's glowing gems unlocks, 134      And all Arabia breathes from yonder box. 135      The Tortoise here and Elephant unite, 136      Transform'd to combs, the speckled, and the white. 137      Here files of pins extend their shining rows, 138      Puffs, Powders, Patches, Bibles, Billet-doux. 139      Now awful Beauty puts on all its arms; 140      The fair each moment rises in her charms, 141      Repairs her smiles, awakens ev'ry grace, 142      And calls forth all the wonders of her face; 143      Sees by degrees a purer blush arise, 144      And keener lightnings quicken in her eyes.

  3. Barbados • Tiny island of 166 square miles • East of Lesser Antilles islands wracked by violence of inter-colonial rivalry • Less mountainous • No indigenous inhabitants left

  4. Indentured Servants • Five years labor to pay off transatlantic passage • Received 10 pound freedom dues upon completion of service, usually in provisions, clothing and tools • Contemptuously known by masters as “white slaves” • Often supplemented by political prisoners and criminals

  5. Racial solidarity and Whiteness • Planters wanted a more permanent labor force • Servants could escape • Served only for 5 years • Parliament began to protect rights of white laborers • Price of African slaves fell from 35 pounds in 1635 to 20 pounds in 1645

  6. Population of Barbados 1638 2000 indentured servants 200 African slaves 1653 8000 indentured servants 20,000 slaves

  7. New World Sugar Output 1600 10,000 tons 1660 30,000 tons

  8. Price of Sugar in England 1620 56 Pounds/ton 1670 28 Pounds/ton

  9. Sugar consumption in England per capita 1660 2 lb 1690 4 lb 1720 8 lb

  10. Slave imports to English Caribbean 1640-50 20,000 1650-76 70,000 1677-1700 173,800

  11. Richard Ligon and African Women • “A Negro of the greatest beautie and majestie together that I ever saw in one woman. Her stature large, and excellently shap’t, well favour’d, full eye’d, & admirably grac’t • “[I] awaited her coming out, which was with far greater majesy, and gracefulness, then I have seen Queen Anne, descend from the Chaire of State (203)

  12. Cape Verde Virgins • “there appeared to our view, many pretie young Negro Virgins, playing about a Well. . . Creatures, of such shapes, as would have puzzel’d Albert Durer, the great Master of Proportion • “yet a word or two, would not be amisse, to express the difference between these and those of high. Africa as of Morcoco, Guinny, Binny, Cutchchow, Angola, Ethiopia, and Mauritania, or those that dwell near the river Gambiai, who are thick lipt, short nosd, and commonly low foreheads

  13. Compare descriptions on 206 -- free Negroes 209 -- black and green so well becoming on another 212 (choosing wives) 214 -- Pickaninny

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