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Background (Intro)
The change from tobacco to sugar caused a labour problem for European colonist. As a result labour was sought from the native Indians and used in the West Indies between 1492 and 1838. The Indians were now introduced to forced labour and were made to work on gold and silver mines and on cattle ranches. Being overworked, ill-treated and exposed to diseases brought by the Europeans, most of the native Indian died.
It was not the first time that Africans were introduced to slavery because traditionally there were three ways in which someone in Africa could become a slave. They could end up a slave by being placed into domestic slavery in the care of wealthy men by there parent(s), being sold into domestic slavery as payments for debts and sometimes they would be prisoners of raids or tribal wars.
Africans first exposure to nontraditional slavery was a surprised night attacks and capture. They were then transported to the west African coast and sold , to Europeans for shipment to the west indies( New World)knowing nothing about there future engagements. As you continue throughout this project you will see that I have outlined the experiences of the slaves during their journey from Africa to the West Indies.
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Slave ports on the west African coast
*Journey to the C*oast
At the coast the captives were placed in baracoons were they had to stay for days. After waiting finally, they were checked by doctors and those referred to as mackrons (rejected slaves) were not selected for the journey, if they had grey hair, a missing tooth, venereal diseases, open wounds, etc. All others would be branded and placed on the slave ship.
Pic 3 A slave baracoon on the coast