1873 Complete Inventory of the Matanzas, Cuban Plantation Colombia Including List of African Slaves and Chinese Coolies Working at the Time

On offer is a fascinating and rare manuscript being the complete inventory of the Plantation Colombia in Palmilla, Matanzas, Cuba, dated January, 1873. 

The inventory begins with a list of male and female slaves names and ages, with notes as to which slaves are fugitives. Beginning on the third page, notes as to the origin of the slaves are included. The list includes slaves who are Criollo (Creole - native), African (from nations and tribes including Ganga, Congo, Carabali, Lucimi, Mandinga, Mozambique and others), and Chinese. 

Following the list of slaves and their details there are notes about the plantation itself. Notes include a reference to broken cannons, wood on the plantation, horses in poor condition, a “negro” named Antonio Molina who has been remitted, and more. 

Many of the slaves are indicated as having been remitted by the Junta de la Deud del Tesoro (Government of the Debt of the Treasury). A representative of the Junta received this list in order for them to intervene in the delivery of Plantation Colombia to Senores Domenech & Company. 

The document is signed by seven Cuban witnesses who testify to the accuracy and contend  that everything looks good and is to “the entire satisfaction” of the officials.

This piece is an excellent example of how slavery and indentured servitude was viewed and managed at the tail end of the Chinese Coolie Trade, when the Chinese were working alongside Black slaves. There is much to be learned about the Plantation Colombia and about the management and assessment of Cuban plantations more generally from this piece. 

The Chinese coolie trade, a system of indentured labor that targeted young, poor Chinese men, operated from 1847-1874. Throughout this period, African slavery was slowly being abolished around the world. The coolie trade  was initiated by Britain and was eventually dominated by both Britain and the United States of America. Chinese coolie laborers were sent to work in British, American and Spanish colonies, and the nature of the trade changed throughout its 27-year operation, due to social and political pressures. The coolie trade took place, in large part, between the shipping port in Macao (now a part of China, then under Portuguese rule) and Havana, Cuba (then under Spanish control). As Macau was under Portugese rule at the time of the coolie trade, they transported coolies on their vessels frequently and many of the manifests were written in Portuguese and/or Spanish. To learn more about the Chinese coolie trade and its importance in world history, click here to read our in-depth research blog on the topic. 

Four pages, writing on front and back for 8 pages of content. It is unbound but appears to have been removed from a larger document. It is possible that the first pages of the document is missing, as the slave inventory begins at #12. This is not confirmed. Age toning and minor rips and folds present, but overall G+.