The Bitter Cauldron
Tragic Molten Memories: The Iron Trains of Sugar's Past Barbados Sugar Wealth. Sugarcane growing started in Barbados in the early 1640s, when the Dutch introduced sugar cane harvesting. By the mid-17th century, Barbados had actually become one of the most affluent colonies in the British Empire, making the label "Little England." But all was not sweetness in the land of Sugar as we discover next: The Dangerous Labour Of Sugar In the glare of Barbados' sun-soaked coasts and lively greenery lies a darker tale of durability and challenge-- the harmful labour behind its once-thriving sugar economy. Central to this story is the big cast iron boiling pots, necessary tools in the sugar production procedure, but also harrowing signs of the gruelling conditions faced by enslaved Africans. Boiling Sugar: A Lealthal Task Sugar production in the 17th and 18th centuries was a perilous procedure. After gathering and crushing the sugarcane, its juice was boiled in huge cast iron k...