Slavers in Paradise: The Peruvian Slave Trade in Polynesia, 1862-1864

by H.E. Maude

From DJ flap - The Peruvian slave raids struck Polynesia with the force of a tsunami. No other event in the history of Polynesia has had such overwhelming consequences for the islanders. The complete story of this tragic history is told here for the first time. Contains 50 illustrations and twelve maps. (Description by http-mart)

Genres: History

244 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

Reviews

[Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly researched, extremely well-arranged and exhaustive historical account. Highly educative for anyone deeply interested in Polynesian history.

Introduction

The Peruvian slave raids of 1862-3 struck the islands of Polynesia with the force of one of the region's tsunami: the great seismic sea waves which from time to time bring death and devastation to her scattered communities. Westwards from the Peruvian port of Callao—the epicentre, as it were, of the disturbance—ships sailed through the island groups of Oceania from the Kermadecs in the south to the Gilberts on the equator and as far west as Rotuma, and like the tsunami themselves caused most damage on the coral atolls and unprotected low islands, while leaving most of the high volcanic groups virtually unscathed.

The repercussions, particularly on Easter Island, Niue and the coral atolls of Polynesia, were traumatic and it would not be an exaggeration to say that no other event in the history of Polynesia has had such widespread effects throughout the region nor, on several islands, more overwhelming consequences for the islanders. Communities which found their numbers reduced by two-thirds, whether by outright kidnapping as on Nukulaelae, or by disease introduced by the kidnappers as on Rapa, or which were perhaps left as on Atafu with only a few aged or infirm men to care for the remnant of widows and orphans, had experienced not only a demographic cata­ strophe but also, in all probability, the destruction of their social structure and the impairment of their cultural heritage and ethos.

The slavers descended on a region totally unprepared for, and on a people who had never conceived the possibility of, such a visitation. Indeed there was nothing of a like nature and scale in Polynesian his­ tory to make it conceivable that anyone, let alone persons professing to be racially and culturally superior, could be capable of kidnapping thousands of men and women by violence or treachery; tearing them at a moment's notice from their parents and children for compulsory transportation to an unknown fate at an unknown destination.

Even the Europeans living in the islands were caught by surprise and it took some time before the last island had been warned by missionary, consul, administrator or naval officer to avoid the 'man­ stealing ships' at all costs, and told that it was unlikely that anyone would ever see again those who had gone on them.

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