The Iron Kettles of Sugar
The Bitter Side of Sweet Sugar in Barbados. Sugarcane cultivation began in Barbados in the early 1640s, when Dutch merchants came to help with sugar production. The island's soil and favourable climate made it an ideal location for harvesting sugar. By the mid-17th century, Barbados had become one of the wealthiest colonies in the British Empire, earning the nickname "Little England."By the mid-17th century, Barbados had turned into one of the wealthiest nests in the British Empire, making the nickname "Little England." But all was not sweetness in the land of Sugar as we discover next: The Dangerous Labour Of Sugar In the presence of Barbados' sun-soaked shores and lively plant lies a darker tale of strength and hardship-- the harmful labour behind its once-thriving sugar economy. Central to this story is the big cast iron boiling pots, essential tools in the sugar production procedure, however also painful signs of the gruelling conditions dealt with by ...