The Bitter Side of Sweet
The Rise of Sugar in Barbados. Sugarcane growing started in Barbados in the early 1640s, when Dutch merchants introduced sugar cane harvesting. The island's fertile soil and favourable climate made it an ideal location for sugar production. By the mid-17th century, Barbados had actually turned into one of the wealthiest colonies in the British Empire, making the label "Little England." But all was not sweetness in the land of Sugar as we discover next:
The Dangerous Labour Of Sugar
In the glare of Barbados' sun-soaked shores and dynamic plant lies a darker tale of resilience and hardship-- the hazardous labour behind its once-thriving sugar economy. Central to this story is the large cast iron boiling pots, essential tools in the sugar production procedure, however likewise traumatic symbols of the gruelling conditions faced by enslaved Africans.
The Boiling Process: A Lealthal Job
Producing sugar in the 17th and 18th centuries was an unforgiving procedure. After collecting and crushing the sugarcane, its juice was boiled in enormous cast iron kettles up until it crystallized into sugar. These pots, often organized in a series called a"" train"" were heated up by blazing fires that enslaved Africans needed to stir continually. The heat was extreme, , and the work unrelenting. Enslaved employees sustained long hours, frequently standing close to the inferno, running the risk of burns and fatigue. Splashes of the boiling liquid were not uncommon and could trigger severe, even deadly, injuries.
A Life of Constant Peril
The dangers were constant for the enslaved workers entrusted with tending these kettles. They worked in sweltering heat, inhaling dangerous gases from the boiling sugar and burning fuel. The work demanded extreme effort and precision; a moment of negligence might cause mishaps. In spite of these difficulties, enslaved Africans brought remarkable ability and resourcefulness to the procedure, ensuring the quality of the final product. This product sustained economies far beyond Barbados" shores.
Now, the large cast iron boiling pots points out this painful past. Scattered throughout gardens, museums, and archaeological sites in Barbados, they stand as quiet witnesses to the lives they touched. These antiques encourage us to reflect on the human suffering behind the sweetness that once drove worldwide economies.
HISTORICAL RECORDS!
Proof of The Deadly Reality of the Sugar Boiling House
Historical accounts, such as those by abolitionist James Ramsay, uncover the covert scaries of Caribbean sugar plantations. Enslaved workers endured severe heat and the constant hazard of falling under boiling barrels-- a grim reality of plantation life.
Molten Memories: The Iron Pots of Sugar's Past - See the link for More