African Tattoos in the Indian Ocean Slave Trade
Abstract
1. Introduction: In 1810, the British government, followed shortly by the French, banned the Indian Ocean slave trade. Just ten years later, 324 men, women, and children were seized by Captain Fairfax Moresby off the French brig Le Succès. Taken as slaves from Africa by French smugglers, the captives' fates were recorded by the government in the island of Mauritius during prosecution. The Collector of Customs recorded the gender, height, tattoos, and ages of the slaves who then became apprentices in Mauritius.
2. Objectives: Much can be learned from the documents to reveal what happened to the African captives after the brig was confiscated. However, what information can be gleaned about their lives before capture from a careful study of their tattoos?
3. Methodology: This case study explores archival materials taken at Mauritius, creates a typology of tattoos and assigns each a code. Further analysis in Excel will look for correlations between tattoo patterns, age, and names.
4. Thesis: An examination of the tattoos reveals similarities between gender and ages exposing political and historical meanings as well as differences in experiences between the captives on board the French brig Le Succès.
5. Significance: While the British government kept careful watch over the captives, little is known about their origins in East Central Africa, or their lives prior to seizure. Understanding the meanings and experiences behind the tattoos of the captives may provide deeper insight into why certain slaves were selected over others and provide context into the slave trade.
About the Presenter
Lana Guetterman
Lana Guetterman is an undergraduate at Washington State University, Vancouver. She is pursuing a B.A. in Humanities with a focus on History and Art History. Lana’s role as a Research Assistant for Dr. Sue Peabody on the Indian Ocean slave trade has given her tremendous experience in working with archival materials and transcriptions. Her work with Dr. Peabody has led to making connections between the slaves’ tattoos and their origins prior to captivity.