Difference between revisions of "Slave Route Monument - Le Morne"

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[[File:International Slave Route Monument, Le Morne, Mauritius.jpg|thumb|400x400px|International Slave Route Monument, Le Morne, Mauritius]]
 
[[File:International Slave Route Monument, Le Morne, Mauritius.jpg|thumb|400x400px|International Slave Route Monument, Le Morne, Mauritius]]
Slave Route Monument (The Le Morne Cultural Landscape) is located on the South Western tip of the island of Mauritius and is more commonly referred to as ''"The Wild South"''. For conservation purposes the landscape possesses both a Core and a Buffer zone. The Area is a rallying point for Mauritian from all walks of life who are deeply concerned about the country's heritage in terms of its history, culture as well as the natural environment.<ref>[http://www.lemorneheritage.org/index.html Lemorneheritage.] Lemorneheritage. Retrieved January 31, 2021</ref>
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The Slave Route Monument (Le Morne Cultural Landscape) is located at the southwestern tip of Mauritius Island and is often referred to as the "''Wild South''". For the sake of protection, the landscape has both a core area and a buffer zone. This area is a gathering place for Mauritians from all walks of life, who are deeply concerned about the country’s heritage in terms of history, culture and natural environment.<ref>[http://www.lemorneheritage.org/index.html Lemorneheritage.] Lemorneheritage. Retrieved January 31, 2021</ref>
  
Slavery is deeply embedded in the history of Mauritius, as it was once a part of the far-reaching and complex network of the international slave trade. The dark tale of hundreds of slaves throwing themselves off the mountain cliff to escape the horrors of dehumanisation gives us gist about the prevailing monstrosity of slavery on the island. The International Slave Route Monument at the foot of Le Morne Brabant commemorates this former practice of slavery in Mauritius.
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Slavery is deeply rooted in the history of Mauritius because it was once part of the far-reaching and complex network of the international slave trade. The dark story of hundreds of slaves fleeing the cliffs in order to escape the fear of inhumanity has given us some insights into the plot of the monsters that prevailed in slavery on the island. The monument to the International Slave Route at the foot of Le Morne Brabant is to commemorate the former slavery in Mauritius.
  
The International Slave Route Monument was inaugurated on 1st February 2009 to mark the 174th anniversary of the Abolition of Slavery in Mauritius. This monument is a reminder of the importance of freedom in people's lives and the objective behind its construction was to promote peace through cultural dialogue.<ref>[https://www.holidify.com/places/mauritius/international-slave-route-monument-sightseeing-124691.html International Slave Route Monument.] Holidify. Retrieved January 31, 2021</ref>
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The International Slave Route Memorial was inaugurated on February 1, 2009 to commemorate the 174th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in Mauritius. This monument reminds people of the importance of freedom in people’s lives. The purpose behind it is to promote peace through cultural dialogue.<ref>[https://www.holidify.com/places/mauritius/international-slave-route-monument-sightseeing-124691.html International Slave Route Monument.] Holidify. Retrieved January 31, 2021</ref>
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
Mauritius was once a part of the complex and far-reaching international slave trade, and people say that hundreds of slaves threw themselves off the cliff rather than face the horrors of dehumanization.
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Mauritius was once part of the complex and far-reaching international slave trade. It is said that hundreds of slaves have jumped off the cliff instead of facing inhuman terror.
  
There’s another, even darker tale: Some say that after the British passed the Slavery Abolition Act in 1834, a group of soldiers and police went to the Le Morne area to let runaway slaves know that they were finally free. But the slaves, seeing the authorities approaching, feared that they were being recaptured and returned to their masters, and climbed to the top of the mountain summit and threw themselves off committing suicide by landing in the ocean.  
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There is another even darker story: it is said that after Britain passed the Abolition of Slavery Act in 1834, a group of soldiers and police went to Le Morne to let out-of-control slaves know that they were finally free. However, when the slaves saw the authorities approaching, they feared that they would be captured and returned to their masters, then climbed to the top of the mountain and committed suicide by landing in the ocean.  
  
In the century between the 1720s and 1820s, over 200,000 slaves—many of whom were illegally introduced after the British outlawed the slave trade in 1807—arrived in Mauritius and Reunion Island from East African and Malagasy ports, according to American slave historian Pier Larson. Many died aboard slave ships en route to their destinations, and ultimately, the slave trade in Mauritius is inextricably linked with the deaths of hundreds of thousands of slaves.  
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According to the American slave historian Pier Larson, in the century between 1720 and 1820, more than 200,000 slaves arrived in Mauritius and Reunion from East Africa and Madagascar ports. These slaves were in 1807. It was illegally introduced after the British banned the slave trade in 1988. Many people died on slave ships heading to their destinations. In the end, the slave trade in Mauritius was inseparable from the deaths of hundreds of thousands of slaves.  
  
The history of the slave in Mauritius is commemorated annually on August 23rd, [[wikipedia:UNESCO|''UNESCO'']]’s International Day for the Remembrance of the ''[[wikipedia:History_of_slavery|Slave Trade]]'', in the hopes of generating greater awareness of this part of the country’s past. It is rather pertinent to highlight that this factual truth (related to slavery on the island) pertains generally to the greater island region of [[wikipedia:Mauritius|''Mauritius'']] and not necessarily to the concentrated focus that the myth and legend places on the mountain of Le Morne Brabant itself given the lack of circumstantial evidence.<ref>[https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/le-morne-slave-route-monument This monument sits at the foot of a mountain from which legend says slaves jumped to their deaths.] Atlasobscura. Retrieved January 31, 2021</ref>
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Every August 23, the ''[[wikipedia:UNESCO|UNESCO]]'' International Day to Commemorate the ''[[wikipedia:History_of_slavery|Slave Trade]]'', will commemorate the history of slavery in ''[[wikipedia:Mauritius|Mauritius]]'' with a view to raising people's awareness of the country's past. Quite relevant is to emphasize the fact that the truth (related to slavery on the island) is usually related to the large island region of Mauritius, and not necessarily to the myths and legends focused on Mount Le Moore Brabant itself. related. Lack of circumstantial evidence.<ref>[https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/le-morne-slave-route-monument This monument sits at the foot of a mountain from which legend says slaves jumped to their deaths.] Atlasobscura. Retrieved January 31, 2021</ref>
 
[[File:International Slave Route Monument, Le Morne, Mauritius (1).jpg|left|thumb|334x334px|International Slave Route Monument, Le Morne, Mauritius]]
 
[[File:International Slave Route Monument, Le Morne, Mauritius (1).jpg|left|thumb|334x334px|International Slave Route Monument, Le Morne, Mauritius]]
 
'''''Resistance to Slavery in Mauritius: the Phenomena of Maroonage'''''
 
'''''Resistance to Slavery in Mauritius: the Phenomena of Maroonage'''''
  
Opposition to slavery took many forms, the most public manifestation of which being maroonage, that is the flight of slaves from their masters. Fugitive slaves or maroons were first found on the island during the Dutch period (1638-1710) and became an integral part of the island's social landscape shortly after French Colonization of Mauritius in 1721.
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There are many forms of opposition to slavery, the most public manifestation of which is slavery, that is, the escape of slaves from their masters. Fleeing slaves or maroon were first discovered on the island during the Dutch period (1638-1710), and soon after the French colonization of Mauritius in 1721, it became an integral part of the island’s social landscape.
  
 
'''''Choosing to live in Difficult Situations'''''
 
'''''Choosing to live in Difficult Situations'''''
  
Maroon slaves faced very difficult situations, such as hunger, a lack of adequate shelter, the need to be continually on the move, and the constant fear of capture which could entail dire consequences, such as branding, whipping, body mutilations and very often the death sentence. Despite having to face these harsh conditions while on the run and the severe punishments that awaited them if captured, a large number of slaves still became maroons.<ref>[http://www.lemorneheritage.org/index.html Le Morne Brabant.] Lemorneheritage. Retrieved January 31, 2021</ref>
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Maroon slaves face very difficult situations, such as starvation, lack of adequate shelter, constant movement, and constant fear of being captured, which can have terrible consequences such as branding, whipping, physical mutilation, and often the death penalty. Although they had to face these harsh conditions while running, and faced severe punishment once captured, many slaves still turned maroon.<ref>[http://www.lemorneheritage.org/index.html Le Morne Brabant.] Lemorneheritage. Retrieved January 31, 2021</ref>
  
 
==External Link==
 
==External Link==

Latest revision as of 04:03, 2 March 2021

International Slave Route Monument, Le Morne, Mauritius

The Slave Route Monument (Le Morne Cultural Landscape) is located at the southwestern tip of Mauritius Island and is often referred to as the "Wild South". For the sake of protection, the landscape has both a core area and a buffer zone. This area is a gathering place for Mauritians from all walks of life, who are deeply concerned about the country’s heritage in terms of history, culture and natural environment.[1]

Slavery is deeply rooted in the history of Mauritius because it was once part of the far-reaching and complex network of the international slave trade. The dark story of hundreds of slaves fleeing the cliffs in order to escape the fear of inhumanity has given us some insights into the plot of the monsters that prevailed in slavery on the island. The monument to the International Slave Route at the foot of Le Morne Brabant is to commemorate the former slavery in Mauritius.

The International Slave Route Memorial was inaugurated on February 1, 2009 to commemorate the 174th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in Mauritius. This monument reminds people of the importance of freedom in people’s lives. The purpose behind it is to promote peace through cultural dialogue.[2]

History

Mauritius was once part of the complex and far-reaching international slave trade. It is said that hundreds of slaves have jumped off the cliff instead of facing inhuman terror.

There is another even darker story: it is said that after Britain passed the Abolition of Slavery Act in 1834, a group of soldiers and police went to Le Morne to let out-of-control slaves know that they were finally free. However, when the slaves saw the authorities approaching, they feared that they would be captured and returned to their masters, then climbed to the top of the mountain and committed suicide by landing in the ocean.

According to the American slave historian Pier Larson, in the century between 1720 and 1820, more than 200,000 slaves arrived in Mauritius and Reunion from East Africa and Madagascar ports. These slaves were in 1807. It was illegally introduced after the British banned the slave trade in 1988. Many people died on slave ships heading to their destinations. In the end, the slave trade in Mauritius was inseparable from the deaths of hundreds of thousands of slaves.

Every August 23, the UNESCO International Day to Commemorate the Slave Trade, will commemorate the history of slavery in Mauritius with a view to raising people's awareness of the country's past. Quite relevant is to emphasize the fact that the truth (related to slavery on the island) is usually related to the large island region of Mauritius, and not necessarily to the myths and legends focused on Mount Le Moore Brabant itself. related. Lack of circumstantial evidence.[3]

International Slave Route Monument, Le Morne, Mauritius

Resistance to Slavery in Mauritius: the Phenomena of Maroonage

There are many forms of opposition to slavery, the most public manifestation of which is slavery, that is, the escape of slaves from their masters. Fleeing slaves or maroon were first discovered on the island during the Dutch period (1638-1710), and soon after the French colonization of Mauritius in 1721, it became an integral part of the island’s social landscape.

Choosing to live in Difficult Situations

Maroon slaves face very difficult situations, such as starvation, lack of adequate shelter, constant movement, and constant fear of being captured, which can have terrible consequences such as branding, whipping, physical mutilation, and often the death penalty. Although they had to face these harsh conditions while running, and faced severe punishment once captured, many slaves still turned maroon.[4]

External Link

See more about Slave Route Monument here


Reference

  1. Lemorneheritage. Lemorneheritage. Retrieved January 31, 2021
  2. International Slave Route Monument. Holidify. Retrieved January 31, 2021
  3. This monument sits at the foot of a mountain from which legend says slaves jumped to their deaths. Atlasobscura. Retrieved January 31, 2021
  4. Le Morne Brabant. Lemorneheritage. Retrieved January 31, 2021