White Lies and Black Markets: Evading Metropolitan Authority in Colonial Suriname, 1650-1800 (Atlantic World: Europe, Africa and the Americas, 1500-1830, 31)

In White Lies and Black Markets , Fatah-Black offers a new account of the colonization of Suriname one of the major European plantation colonies on the Guiana Coast in the period between 1650-1800. While commonly portrayed as an isolated tropical outpost, this study places the colony in the context of its connections to the rest of the Atlantic world. These economic and migratory links assured the colony s survival, but also created many incentives to evade the mercantilistically inclined metropolitan authorities. By combining the available data on Dutch and North American shipping with accounts of major political and economic developments, the author uncovers a hitherto hidden world of illicit dealings, and convincingly argues that these illegal practices were essential to the development and survival of the colony, and woven into the fabric of the colonial project itself." Contents 7 Acknowledgements 9 List of Tables 10 List of Graphs 11 List of Figures 12 List of Abbreviations 13 Timeline 1650–1800 14 Governors of Suriname, 1683–1802 15 Chapter 1 Introduction 17 Chapter 2 Origins of Dutch and European Colonization in Suriname 32 Precarious Settlement 43 Non-Dutch Migration 48 Chapter 3 To These Lands and to Nowhere Else? 57 Persistent Regional Networks 62 Legalizing the Trade 67 Tax Evasion: Dutch and British 70 Chapter 4 The Ascent of the Surinamer, 1690s–1730s 79 Changing Vision 80 From Nassy to Neale 92 Controlling Plantation Managers 109 Chapter 5 Local Supplies of Labor and Provisions 124 Wood Production and Distribution 126 Imports and Local Production of Drink 135 Between Ship and Plantation 142 Peddlers and the Development of Paramaribo’s Street Markets 151 Chapter 6 Controlling the Slave Trade 160 Private Interest and Company Trade 162 Commissioners and Governors Caught between Planters and Directors 167 Contracted Sales 174 Saving Suriname’s Slavery 179 Chapter 7 Trade with the Heartland of Independence 183 American Captains and Middlemen in Suriname 187 Surinamese Merchants and Middlemen 195 The North American Slave Trade in Suriname 201 Chapter 8 Conclusion 214 Bibliography 223 Consulted Archives 231 Index 232 In White Lies And Black Markets, Fatah-black Offers A New Account Of The Colonization Of Suriname--one Of The Major European Plantation Colonies On The Guiana Coast--in The Period Between 1650-1800. While Commonly Portrayed As An Isolated Tropical Outpost, This Study Places The Colony In The Context Of Its Connections To The Rest Of The Atlantic World. These Economic And Migratory Links Assured The Colony's Survival, But Also Created Many Incentives To Evade The Mercantilistically Inclined Metropolitan Authorities. By Combining The Available Data On Dutch And North American Shipping With Accounts Of Major Political And Economic Developments, The Author Uncovers A Hitherto Hidden World Of Illicit Dealings, And Convincingly Argues That These Illegal Practices Were Essential To The Development And Survival Of The Colony, And Woven Into The Fabric Of The Colonial Project Itself--provided By Publisher. Origins Of Dutch And European Colonization In Suriname -- To These Lands And To Nowhere Else? -- The Ascent Of The Surinamer, 1690s-1730s -- Local Supplies Of Labor And Provisions -- Controlling The Slave Trade -- Trade With The Heartland Of Independence -- Consulted Archives. By Karwan Fatah-black. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.