Change from Logwood to Mahogany

Logwood was the first major timber export from the Caribbean and was produced mainly in Belize. It was very

valuable for its dye, which was used by wood manufacturers. Spanish ships carrying logwood were often attacked by

British pirates, who stole the cargo and resold it. However, the buccaneers soon decided that cutting the logwood

trees themselves was an easier way and safer way to make a profit. These new producers caused a glut on the

market. This resulted in falling prices in the 1760s and so mahogany replaced logwood as Belize’s main wood export.

Since mahogany wood was harder than logwood, the economy of Belize (renamed British Honduras after it was

colonized by Britain) changed drastically. Logwood was a small tree which required only a few men to cut it.

Slavery started in Belize in 1724 but there were relatively few Africans until the 1770s after which the number of

Africans expanded to more than three quarters of the population of about 5 000 people. Mahogany production

created new jobs, e.g, as huntsmen, the axe men and cattle men and these jobs were done by skilled slaves. The

huntsmen went into the forest to find mahogany trees, the axe men did the chopping and trimming of the trees, and

the cattle men took care of the animals used to transport the logs. These enslaved men, their masters and overseers

had to cover long distances to find the trees, which did not grow in clumps like the logwood but were located singly

and often far apart. This meant that sites were temporary and that enslaved men were away from their families for

long period of time so logging had to be seasonal. After the logging season ended, families were reunited and

celebrations took place at the community festivals where the enslaved interacted with each other. This interaction

among the enslaved created a new Belizean creole culture. Tobago and British Guiana are other territories which

experienced the changeover from logwood to mahogany.

The Coming of the Africans

The most important change occurred as a result of the sugar revolution was a need for a large amount of skilled
labour that was not available in the West Indies.

The first source of labour which Europeans experimented with was that of

the Amerindians. Under the Encomienda and Repartimiento systems, many natives lost their lives. The genocide of
these indigenous peoples meant that Europeans were forced to seek alternative sources of labour.

They turned to the indentureship system. Poor whites were attracted to West Indian plantations to perform manual
labour. They too proved unsuccessful as these indentured servants were unaccustomed to plantation life. As a

result, another source was necessary.

 The main religion practiced by Europeans during this period was Christianity. Europeans were predominately
Roman Catholics. The British however were Anglicans. Europeans believed it was their Godgiven duty to convert non-
Christians. In addition, it was believed that Africans were direct descendants of Ham (one of Noah’s sons) who was

condemned to a life of servitude. Europeans believed Africans/blacks were made to be slaves. Bartholomew de Las
Casas suggested the use of African slaves.

 Slavery already existed in Africa. Persons were made slaves for debts, punishment, crimes, marriages, etc., making
it easy to access the large numbers required. Europeans felt that they were not introducing

anything new into Africa so there was nothing wrong with what they were doing.

 Sugar was now the major export commodity of the West Indies and demanded a large labour force.

 Slavery was seen as a ‘’necessary evil’’ because for sugar cultivation and manufacture to be profitable, a large,
readily available, and cheap labour supply was essential.

 The Amerindian population had declined so the remaining population could not provide an adequate labour force.

 Africans were available in large numbers.

 Planters saw a cost advantage in the use of African slaves. An African purchased was a slave for life and the children
of slaves became the properties of their masters.

 Africans were skilled agriculturists and accustomed to manual labour in a tropical climate. The Caribbean and Africa
had similar tropical climates.

 Africa is closer to the Caribbean than Europe and the Trans-Atlantic voyage was assisted by the trade winds blowing
east to west.

 As the plantation system developed planters no longer wanted to give prime sugar land as incentives to attract
indentured servants and so they began to rely more heavily on African slaves, since there was no need to give them
land.

A look at West African Societies before the arrival of the Europeans

Slavery existed in West Africa long before the Europeans arrived in 1515 for debt, as punishment, and as sacrifice.
West African societies were very diverse, prosperous and consisting of states at various stages of development. Africa
maybe divided in two main regions:

The Savannah States (Ghana, Mali, Songhai)

These consisted of fertile grass land and was ideal for farming, agriculture and cattle and goat rearing. Weaving,
leather making, and crafting were also popular means of earning a living. Trade to the north was also very profitable
and goods such as salt, gold, ivory, kola nuts as well as European and Asian goods were the basis of this

trade which soon expanded to include slaves. This trade led to the transformation of small settlements into large
cities, along government and powerful empires. Thus, there was a need for administrators, accountants,

law enforcers, tax collectors, and merchants.

Political Organization

During the 15c., when the trade in African slaves was in existence, the Songhai Empire was ruling. Before the rise of
this empire, the Mali Empire had been the major Savannah Empire. The Mali had been taken over by

another thriving empire- Ghana Empire. These powerful empires had arisen because of the revenue gained from the
high taxes which the merchants were required to pay the rulers for passing through their lands.
The Forest States (Oyo, Benin, Dahome, Asante)

The Forest States were increasing in status shortly before the arrival of the Europeans. Slaves were taken almost fully
from this region due to its proximity to the coast. The people in these areas were generally agriculturist

planting yam, cassava, bananas and rearing small animals such as chickens, pigs and fowls. The forest provided an
abundance of fruits, river teemed with fish and hunting was practiced. There were also potters, weavers, sculptors,

mines, and metal workers. Initially, these people practiced small scale trading but later provided the north with
Ebony, Leopard skin and Pepper. Their wealth grew and industries thrived as a result of the slave trade.

Political Organization

By the time the slave trade began, there were no vast empires in the forest region like those of the savannah. Each
forest state had its own unique pattern of government. The Yoruba people were one of the most organized in

the forest region. There were many towns which served as centres for trade. In every town could be found farmers,
priests and craftsmen. Each town was a small kingdom ruled by a king or Obah who controlled the neighbouring

forest lands. The Edo people lived in the state of Benin. The rulers of Benincalled themselves Obas of Benin because
they copied from the Yoruba people. However, the Obas of Benin were more powerful than those of the

Yoruba. The state of Benin was situated at end of the busy trade roots leading to the savannah town. The kings
gained a lot of riches by taxing the merchants. Before the arrival of the Europeans, the Edo merchants sold ivory,
pepper and ebony. The merchants also sold cloth and jewellery.

Religion in West African Societies

Between AD 1000 and 1500, Islam spread from the Mediterranean into the Sudanic belt, the region of Africa which
lies to the south of the Sahara Desert and to the empires of Sudan. Islam was carried into the forest zone to the

south where it competed with tribal religions and finally into conflict with ancestor worship and each tribe was
united into the common worship of tribal gods who were often mythical. In Kingdoms such as Benin and Oyo, the

immediate ancestors of Lings were seen as gods. Each god had a specialized function but all were responsible for
fertility of their followers, fetishism, or the harnessing of impersonal forces of the universe by incarnations and

charms was prevalent everywhere.

A comparison between the Forest and Savannah States

 Both were traders and agriculturists, but in the savannah a great use of currency (cowry shell, gold) was employed.

 Hunting existed in both regions but was more popular in the forest states.

 They both had organized systems of government.

 Trade was better developed in the savannah, building and construction was more advanced and printing was
practiced.

Areas from which slaves were taken

Slaves were taken mainly from West Africa. Slaves were taken from the forest states (Oyo, Benin, Dahome, and
Asante). They came from that section of West Africa stretching from the Senegal River in the north to the

Congo River in the south. The various areas along the West African Coast have been given different names, e.g. Grain
Coast, Ivory Coast, Gold Coast, and Slave Coast.

Methods used to acquire Slaves

 Slave scramble. In a slave scramble, Africans were divided into groups for which set prices were fixed. At a signal,
the planters rushed on board to assess which groups offered the best quality for the least money.

How slaves were captured and their journey to the coast

The slaves were captured in tribal wars or raids on villages. Boys and men between the ages of sixteen and forty were
sought especially. Old persons, women and children were left behind or killed in the raids. Those captured

were marched to the coast. The slaves were assembled in coffles and were often chained together. Speed was
essential as a captain was waiting at the coast for the slaves. Those who did not keep up were left behind or

punished.

Methods used to capture slaves

 Surprise attacks- The slave raiders often used the element of surprise. Africans were ambushed and kidnapped as
they worked or travelled away from the community. Under such conditions they would have been outnumbered with
little chance of escaping or calling for help. As people ran from their burning homes, many were grabbed and taken

away.

 The use of trickery- Sometimes slave hunters enticed people to go with them promising to take them to exciting
new places and to see many wonderful things. Some Africans went willingly only to be captured and forced to make a
trip away from their home.

 Tribal differences- The animosity which often existed between the tribes was exploited by the slave traders.
Whereas Africans would’ve been reluctant to sell a member of their own tribe, they usually would’ve been more
willing to sell a member of the enemies’ tribe. Enemies captured during tribal warfare were therefore sold to the

Europeans.

Items used as a medium of exchange for slaves

The items used as a medium of exchange for slaves include knives, guns, alcohol, beads, cloth, and silk.

What happened to the slaves as they arrived at the coast?

When the slaves arrived at the coast, slave quarters called barracoons were ready to receive them. The initial
examination of the slaves took place outside the barracoons which were as dark dungeons. Usually the ship

surgeon examines them on the beach. They were stripped naked and placed into two groups: the sound ones and the
rejects. The rejected ones had ailments. The sound ones were branded on the chest with a red hot iron,

signifying the country that they will be shipped to. The slave sales then came. After, the slaves were placed on board
ships waiting to be transported to the New World.