The legend of human cargo

DURING the height of colonial expansions preceding the 19th century, planters and industrialists in European colonies around the world relied heavily on slavery for the massive profits they made and immense wealth they accumulated.

The scourge of the slave trade came to an end within the British Empire in 1833 when England abolished it. Slaves throughout the British Empire were set free and this heralded the end of free labour.

Subsequent events revealed that the importation of Indian indentured labourers into colonies of the British Empire scattered around the world during the 19th century was the direct result of the abolition of slavery.

These labourers, often referred to as “human cargoes”(much like the slaves before them), were exported from India to far-flung regions of the world such as Mauritius, Fiji, Natal and West Indies to name a few.

In 1843 Britain officially annexed Natal, South Africa. In 1856 it became a full