Slaves, Freedmen and Indentured Laborers in Colonial Mauritius (African Studies, Series Number 99)

This social and economic history of the island of Mauritius, from French colonization in 1721 to the beginnings of modern political life in the mid-1930s, emphasizes the importance of domestic capital formation, particularly in the sugar industry. Describing changing relationships among different elements in the society, slave, free and maroon, and East Indian indentured populations, it shows how these were conditioned by demographic changes, world markets, and local institutions. It brings the Mauritian case to the attention of scholars engaged in the comparative study of slavery and plantation systems. In this wide-ranging social and economic history of the island of Mauritius, from French colonization in 1721 to the beginnings of modern political life in the colony in the mid-1930s, Richard Allen brings out the importance of domestic capital formation, particularly in the sugar industry. He describes the changing relationship between different elements in the society - slave, free and maroon, and East Indian indentured populations - and shows how these were conditioned by demographic changes, world markets and local institutions. Based on thorough archival research, and thoroughly attuned to contemporary debates, this 1999 book will bring the Mauritian case to the attention of scholars engaged in the comparative study of slavery and plantation systems. "In this wide-ranging social and economic history of Mauritius, from its permanent settlement in 1721 to the beginnings of modern political life in the mid-1930s, Richard Allen discusses the important role of domestic capital in shaping the island's development as a sugar colony. He describes the changing relationship between the sugar industry and different elements in Mauritian society - slaves, free persons of color and East Indian indentured laborers - and shows how these were shaped by demographic change, world markets, and local institutions."--Jacket

Social and economic history of Mauritius of interest to scholars of slavery and plantation systems.