The D’andrado Slaves
Judging by the evidence collected, it is evident that the de Fonseka / D’andrado clans have owned Slaves in their properties, at one time or the other. The following account from the D’andrado Papers describes the transfer of slaves as part of a dowry, and provides clear documentary evidence to support this.
Although the word slaves brings to mind subjugation and cruelty, slaves in Sri Lanka were treated mildly and more as servants. However they were property owned, and bought and sold as property. The second part of this article extracted from the Royal Asiatic Society Journal gives a very good understanding of the slavery system which existed over the past centuries in Sri Lanka.
The Dutch Records Volume 3210 in the Sri Lanka National Archives contain the documentation regarding many slave transfers by the family. The volume was compiled and translated to English by J. H. O Paulusz, Govt. Archivist from 1940 – 1958, and subsequently published as the D’andrado Manuscripts in the Sri Lanka National Archives (SLNA) Volume II of 1984. This volume also gives us an interesting insight into the life and times of the early 18th century, and legal matters, including possession of ‘Paraveni’ lands, and the ownership and transfer of slaves. The following extracts have been taken from the SLNA Journal 1984.
- A clear insight into the Slave System and its incidence in the domestic and social life of the past ages, is among the sidelights we glean from these papers.
- The deed of November 12, 1695, by which Bras de Andrado bestowed certain property on his daughter, provided that she shall inherit all his goods and slaves, except two lads named Kadrian and Joan who have been set free by him.
- The deed of October 6, 1695, by which Bras de Andrado bestowed certain property on his daughter, provided that she shall inherit the garden named Taladewatte and Parangiatotam, together with two female slaves named Maria and Sabina to serve my daughter so long as she remains in this world.
- Slaves formed part of the land, and were bought and sold with the transfer of ownership of land. A slave girl bought by Thomas Pieris from Bras de Andrado, was taken over by the later for what she had cost, on the adjudication of the protracted case between Bras de Andrado and his son-in-law, Thomas Pieris.
- Among the documents in the possession of Mudaliyar S. R. De Fonseka were papers relating to slave transfers of the D’andrado families. The full list of documents could be found in the reference section, under ‘Dandrado Papers’.
- The two references to slave transfers have been reproduced below.
- (1) Slave transfer in favor of Philip Manuel d’Andrado dated 12 October 1779.
- (2) Slave transfer in favor of Renaldus d’Anderado dated 9th September 1789
Slavery in Sri Lanka
By Pundit Dr. Nandadcva Wueszkfra B.A. How. (Low.); B A. Tpumh. (Cavtab.); MA. (Cantai.J; Ph.D. (Calcutta).
Extracts from the Presidential Address delivered on 20-12-74 to the Royal Asiatic Society Sri Lanka
Among almost all ancient societies serfdom or slavery existed in some form or other. In course of time such a system became an institution maintained by strict laws and observances. In countries such as Greece, Italy. Egypt, Arabia, India and China slavery was of the domestic kind. So was it in Lanka for the most part.
In Sri Lanka slavery may have originated on lines similar to those obtaining in India. In fact even its structural pattern may have been borrowed from India during fifth century B.C.
So far as the present knowledge goes different types of slavery may have become crystalized to constitute two main forms of it. One class was employed as domestic servants, who worked in homes and estates in close association with their masters and families. The other attended to all menial duties such as scavenging and treatment and handing of dead bodies. So two separate words denoted these two main classes. These two words serf and slave are used somewhat indiscriminately now but earlier these may have been applied to the two types of menial workers. A serf is a person whose service is attached to the soil and is transferred with it. A slave is a person who is the legal property of another or others and is bound to absolute obedience and human control.
Two words ‘dasa’ and ‘vahal’ have been used in the Sinhala language as well. Later the word ‘vahal’ may have replaced, the earlier word ‘dasa’. Naturally both words ‘dasa’ and ‘vahal’ are used to mean slaves. But a distinction, if one did exists, was that the earlier word meant serf (service is attached to the soil and is transferred with it) whilst the latter meant slave (legal property of another).
There existed in early society of Sri Lanka both male and female dasas. They were a class of domestic servants (serfs) who worked in fields and homes. Slavery had been divided into four main categories. These were hereditary (born to slaves – antojata), purchased (dhanakkita), captured in war (karamaranita) and voluntary submission (samam dasabbhyam upagatanam).
On the whole the slaves in Lanka were treated mildly. They were seldom sold or families separated but were given as marriage portions or distributed among heirs on the death of the proprietor. Every consideration was paid to the feelings of slaves. Cruelty to a slave was hardly known and slaves were treated as adoptees rather than menials. There was no object of ill-treating them, nevertheless the owner had the right to punish slaves by torture with red hot iron, flogging, confinement in stocks or iron, cutting off the hair and even selling them.”
There were documentary titles in the case of transfers and testamentary bequests of slaves. A register defined their position
In the earliest recorded Sinhala stories names of slaves are not mentioned. They are referred to as dasa or dasi. It may have been due to the fact that they were mainly domestic hands who worked by day or night in private households
The ownership of slaves was restricted to three sections. The state was the first, monasteries and temples came second. The rich land owning persons was the third. The possession of slaves was a mark of honour and affluence during early times.
When the Portuguese arrived in Lanka there was a trade in slaves between South India and the Tamil speaking districts of Lanka especially the Northern Province. The Portuguese maintained a large number of slaves both male and female for their industry as well as for commercialising their person. For this and other purposes African slaves were imported in large numbers and were distributed throughout the areas under Portuguese control
With the arrival of the Dutch, the King of Sri Lanka sought their assistance to drive away the Portuguese. At the siege of Colombo the Portuguese with their wives, children and slaves were taken prisoner. During this time the Dutch East India Company asked permission from King Rajasinha to trade freely in “Sapu wood, gum lac, arecanuts, rice, provisions and slaves”.
The humanitarian ideas regarding slaves were introduced by the Dutch about a hundred years prior to the British. In fact in Batavia they had a code for dealing with slaves. The same principles formed the basis of their dealings with slaves in Lanka.
In 1660 the Dutch issued an order interdicting the selling or mortgaging of free born Sinhalese. By 1771 Dutch had greatly reduced the number of slaves in Colombo, and by 1787 transfers of slaves were made difficult. Traffic in Christian slaves was forbidden. Before the arrival of the British the Dutch had a law to reduce and abolish slavery. This was confirmed in 1802. A fine of 100 rix dollars was imposed on anyone trying to enslave free born persons. In spite of the enlightened view of the Dutch government those in control of their possessions in Lanka did not interfere with the system of slavery to change it radically. When the Dutch handed power to the British in 1795 slaves were still in the same position.
A serious dispute arose at the time of the Dutch capitulation in 1795 as to whether slaves should be treated as property in spite of the fact that it was the custom from ancient times to treat slaves as private property. There also arose the question of redeeming or transferring slaves. So the procedure adopted in the statute of Batavia and the Koran was followed.
New enlightened thinking in Europe influenced Britain and eventually the colony of Ceylon.
During the Governorship of Edward Barnes slavery was abolished in the Maritime Provinces on 12th August 1816 on the birthday of the Prince Regent (Later George IV). This order was voluntarily carried out by a group of slave owners in Galle and Jaffna by delivering free all children born of their slaves.
Interesting enough a sort of census of the slave population was prepared in 1832 or there about. In 1837 the slaves in the Kandyan Provinces were registered. The total figures exclusive of the seven Korales were as follows:
1837. During this period the world movement demanding the abolition of slavery gained full strength. No European government could ignore the humane appeal for their liberation. The British government had to take action to abolish slavery in her colonies.
In 1841 an ordinance was passed to abolish “all vestiges of slavery”. First abolition was notified in the Northern and Maritime Provinces.
In 1845 Lord Stanley carried out the final act of extinction of slavery in Sri Lanka. Nothing in the shape of compensation was paid to the owners of slaves. Nothing was actually demanded by the owners themselves.
JOURNAL. R.A.S. (SRI LANKA) Vol XVIII New Series 1974
