The Bitter Cauldron

Boiling Down Sugar




The Rise of Barbados Sugar Wealth. Sugarcane cultivation began in Barbados in the early 1640s, when the Dutch came to help with sugar cane harvesting. By the mid-17th century, Barbados had actually become one of the most affluent colonies in the British Empire, earning the label "Little England." But all was not sweetness in the land of Sugar as we discover next:

The Hidden Dangers Of Sugar

In the glory of Barbados' sun-soaked coasts and lively plant lies a darker tale of resilience and challenge-- the hazardous labour behind its once-thriving sugar economy. Central to this story is the large cast iron boiling pots, necessary tools in the sugar production process, but also harrowing symbols of the gruelling conditions faced by enslaved Africans.

The Boiling Process: A Grueling Task

Sugar production in the 17th and 18th centuries was  a perilous process. After harvesting and squashing the sugarcane, its juice was boiled in massive cast iron kettles till it took shape as sugar. These pots, frequently arranged in a series called a"" train"" were heated up by blazing fires that enslaved Africans needed to stir continuously. The heat was suffocating, , and the work unrelenting. Enslaved employees endured long hours, frequently standing near to the inferno, running the risk of burns and fatigue. Splashes of the boiling liquid were not unusual and might trigger serious, even fatal, injuries.


The Bitter History of Sugar

The sugar market's success came at an extreme human expense. Enslaved Africans lived under brutal conditions, subjected to physical punishment, poor nutrition, and relentless workloads. Yet, they showed extraordinary durability. Many discovered ways to preserve their cultural heritage, giving tunes, stories, and abilities that sustained their neighbourhoods even in the face of unthinkable hardship.

Today, the big cast iron boiling pots serve as tips of this unpleasant past. Scattered across gardens, museums, and archaeological sites in Barbados, they stand as silent witnesses to the lives they touched. These antiques motivate us to assess the human suffering behind the sweetness that once drove global economies.


HISTORICAL RECORDS!


Abolitionist literature on The Risks of the Boiling Trains

Abolitionist literature, consisting of James Ramsay's works, details the dreadful risks dealt with by enslaved workers in sugar plantations. The boiling house, with its precariously hot barrels, was a deadly workplace where exhaustion and extreme heat caused tragic accidents.

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Boiling Sugar: The Bitter Side of Sweet |The Fatal Side of Sugar: |Sweetness Forged in Fire |
Molten Memories: The Iron Pots of Sugar's Past |

Barbados Molten Memories