Imprimir \"Les prouesses meurtrières\" ; 6 Dec 2023 by Soman Ragavan

Photo : Mautourco, Mauritius

(Full acknowledgements are made here).

(Bassin esclaves, Pamplemousses, Mauritius).

Slavery ended in Mauritius around 1835.

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SOMAN RAGAVAN

7 December, 2023

Poem : “RAPT ET SAUVETAGE” (appears on this site).

(a) This poem relates to slavery in general, to slavery in Mauritius in particular, and to the rescue of a White child by a Black female slave in the face of deadly attacks by Black runaway slaves against a certain house in Mauritius during the slavery days. Please see the article entitled“Combat à mort,” published in “5-PLUS DIMANCHE” newspaper on 7 April, 1996, (page 19). In this article, J. L. Chan Low makes reference to : Marcelle Lagesse : “L’ÎLE DE FRANCE AVANT LABOURDONNAIS,” (1978). For more details on the inhuman treatment which was given to slaves, please see the article “Récit de marrons. Les Mutins de la Liberté,” by J. L. Chan Low in “5-PLUS DIMANCHE” newspaper, 7 July, 1996, (page 19).

The Black slave was working as babysitter with a White family. Look at the following :

--she had been kidnapped from her village in Africa; marched to the coast; forced on board a ship for Mauritius;

--she was sold as a slave;

--she was bought and kept almost as a prisoner in the house of her employer;

--she was working as a babysitter for them, looking after a White baby;

--runaway slaves (runaways) had attacked the house; both herself and the baby were in danger;

--in one second she could have settled her scores; she could have left the baby and escaped from the house to save her own life; the baby would most probably have been killed;

--in one second she listened only to her woman and maternal instincts; she saved the White baby from death at the hands of her own tribe, although she was herself a slave at the hands of her White employers (captors);

--in the process, she had put herself in mortal danger of death at the hands of her own tribe.

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(a) This poem is on the subject of runaway slaves who were relentlessly hunted like beasts in Mauritian forests. Sometimes a pack of dogs would be set loose upon the slaves, who, in spite of their prowess, were thus mercilessly savaged before being killed or captured.

(b) On this subject, reference may be made in particular to the following articles by J. L. Chan Low :

[1] “Récit de marrons. Adoucissements des peines ?” “5-PLUS DIMANCHE” newspaper, 28 April, 1996, (page 19).

[2] “Récit de marrons. Les détachements.” “5-PLUS DIMANCHE” newspaper, 5 May, 1996, (page 19).

[3] “Récit de marrons. Les Mutins de la Liberté.” “5-PLUS DIMANCHE” newspaper, 7 July, 1996, (page 19).

[1] “Récits de marrons. Répression du marronage : Le code légal,” in “5-PLUS DIMANCHE” newspaper of 21 April, 1996, (page 19). (This article by J. L. Chan Low makes reference, among others, to : Abbé Alexandre Gui Pingré : “JOURNAL DE VOYAGE” [1761]).

[2] “Amédée Nagapen explore le marronnage.” “Le MAURICIEN” newspaper, 22 May, 1999, (page 7).

[3] Nitt Chitamun :“The rape of the soul.” Supplement of “L’EXPRESS” newspaper, 7 July, 2000, (page V)