1871 Rare Contract of an Emancipated Black Slave Who Will Labour for Six Years in Havana

On offer is an exceedingly rare contract for an emancipated African slave who received “an exemption from the Government” to work under a Cuban on a six year contract. 

The contract is for six years, shorter than the typical eight year contracts of the Chinese coolies, who were a major part of the indentured Cuban workforce at this time. The contract lists the obligations of the emancipated African slave, Mauerto, to “commit myself to work under the orders of D. Luis Montane in all tasks customary here in the countryside, in the towns wherever I am posted…in sugar mills, meadows, coffee plantations…pastures, ranches and everything that concerns urban work, rural, whatever the type…”. The contract states Montane must pay 10 pesos monthly and provide “food per day of eight ounces salted meat and two and a half pounds of sweet potatoes or other healthy and nutritious foods”. It also states that if the worker becomes ill, Montane must pay for his health care and pay him for the first eight days of his illness, provide two changes of clothes per year and a blanket. The contract is dated July 23, 1871, and is signed at the bottom by Montane and witnesses. English representatives sometimes signed for labourers, so a signature on behalf of Mauerto may be present.  Contracts such as this one were provided to emancipated slaves after completion of a primitive contract. 

Cuba had a great need for inexpensive labour to support their sugar industry. While America and Britain signed a treaty in 1814 to abolish the African slave trade, it took many years for complete global abolition. The African slave trade was not ended in Cuba until 1886, despite it being formally abolished in 1867 (Yun & Laremont, 2001). The details of this contract closely align with contracts of Chinese coolie labourers, and the printed nature of this contract implies that many emancipated African slaves were contracted following their emancipation. Based on knowledge of the contracted Chinese labourers, we know that conditions for indentured workers were equal to, or worse than, those of slaves. 

This document is printed and filled out in ink. It is one page on recto of a single sheet. It measures 8x12 inches. It exhibits age toning and creasing appropriate to its age. Overall VG.