Book

Alabi's world

Johns Hopkins University PressBaltimore • Published In 1990 • Pages: xx, 444

By: Price, Richard.

Abstract
This is a multi-vocal history (1660-1820) of the Saramaka drawn from their own oral history (see also document no. 4), and the written accounts of Dutch colonial officers and German Moravian missionaries. Price also includes his own voice based on his field work carried out over a twenty-year period. Each perspective is printed in a different typeface. Price ties together the various narrative threads, while allowing each to speak for itself. Although Price gives an account of the early Saramakan history beginning with the establishment of the first plantations in the late 1600s, the study concentrates on the period following the end of hostilities between runaway slaves and plantation owners in 1762, up to the death of the Saramakan tribal chief, and Christian convert, Alabi, in 1820. The study highlights the efforts and effects of missionary activity and the ongoing negotiation of treaty terms between the Saramakans and colonial authorities. Although the Saramakans were obligated by the treaty to return all runaway slaves in exchange for valued tributary goods, Prices documents how relatively few runaways were returned and the inability of colonial authorities to do anything about it.
Subjects
Traditional history
History
Slavery
External relations
Peacemaking
Missions
culture
Saramaka
HRAF PubDate
1999
Region
South America
Sub Region
Amazon and Orinoco
Document Type
Book
Evaluation
Creator Type
Ethnologist
Document Rating
4: Excellent Secondary Data
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
Ian Skoggard ; 1997
Field Date
1966-1987
Coverage Date
1660-1820
Coverage Place
Suriname
Notes
Richard Price
Includes bibliographical references (p. 433-444)
LCCN
89015488
LCSH
Saramacca (Surinam people)