Boiling Sugar: The Bitter Side of Sweet
In
18th-century Barbados, sugar was made in cast-iron syrup kettles,
a technique later on embraced
in the American South. Sugarcane was crushed
using wind and animal-powered mills. The extracted juice was boiled, clarified, and
vaporized in a series of iron pots of
decreasing size to create crystallized
sugar.
Barbados Sugar Wealth.
Sugarcane growing started in Barbados in the early
1640s, when the Dutch presented sugar cane harvesting. The island's soil and
favourable climate made it an ideal location for harvesting sugar. By
the mid-17th century, Barbados had become one of the wealthiest colonies
in the British Empire, earning the nickname "Little England."By the
mid-17th century, Barbados had become one of the most affluent nests in the British
Empire, earning the label "Little England." But all
was not sweetness in the land of Sugar as we discover next:
The Dangerous Labour Behind Sugar
In
the glory of Barbados' sun-soaked
shores and lively greenery lies a
darker tale of strength and
hardship-- the
unsafe labour behind its once-thriving
sugar economy. Central to this story is the big cast iron
boiling pots, vital tools in the sugar
production process, however also
painful signs of the gruelling
conditions dealt with by enslaved Africans.
Boiling Sugar: A Lealthal Task
Sugar
production in the days of colonial slavery was an unforgiving procedure. After
collecting and squashing the
sugarcane, its juice was boiled in massive cast iron
kettles till it crystallized into sugar. These pots, typically
set up in a series called a"" train"" were
heated up by blazing fires that workers needed to stir
continually. The heat was
extreme, and the work
unrelenting. Enslaved workers endured
long hours, typically standing near the inferno, running the risk of burns and
fatigue. Splashes of the boiling liquid were not
unusual and could cause
extreme, even fatal, injuries.
The Bitter History of Sugar
The
sugar market's success came at a severe human expense. Enslaved workers lived
under brutal conditions, subjected to physical
penalty, bad nutrition, and
ruthless work. Yet, they
showed remarkable
resilience. Many
found methods to preserve their
cultural heritage, passing down tunes, stories, and
skills that sustained their communities
even in the face of unthinkable
hardship.
By
acknowledging the dangerous labour of
enslaved Africans, we honour their contributions and sacrifices.
Barbados" sugar market, built on their backs, formed
the island's history and economy. As we appreciate the
antiques of this era, we need to
likewise remember the people whose
labour and strength made it
possible. Their story is an essential part of comprehending not just the history of
Barbados however the broader history of
the Caribbean and the global impact
of the sugar trade.
The video
portrays chapter 20 of Rogues in Paradise. The
scene is of Hunts Gardens carved out of the many gullies in
Barbados: Meet the amazing
man who created the most
enchanted place on earth!
HISTORICAL RECORDS!
Abolitionist literature on The Dangers of the Boiling House
Abolitionist
literature, including James Ramsay's works,
information the horrific dangers
faced by enslaved workers in sugar plantations.
The boiling home, with its
dangerously hot vats, was a lethal office where
fatigue and extreme heat caused terrible mishaps.
{
The Bitter Side of Sweet |The Hidden Side of
Sugar: |Sweet Taste Forged in Fire:
The Sugar-Boiling Legacy |
Molten Memories: The Iron Kettles of Sugar's Past |
Comments
Post a Comment