(SLAVERY AND ABOLITION--CUBA.) Chart of Cubans who had escaped from servitude, most of them Chinese. Manuscript document, 17 1/4 x 12 1/2 inches, signed by official Matias Gallego; full separation at center fold, long closed tear in upper margin, minor worming , other minor wear. Santa Clara, Cuba, 1 April 1858
A list of 24 maroons who had fled slavery but had since been captured, listing for each their date of escape, date of capture, name, age, state, description, nation of birth, "duenos" (owner) and town. It is headed "Relacion circunstanciada de los cimarrones existentes en el deposito municipal de esta jurisdiccion y de los capturados durante el mes pp'do." The nationality of these maroons is particularly interesting. One is listed as Arará (a Cuban term for those roots trace back to the Kingdom of Dahomey), and two are Lucumí (another Cuban group tracing back to the Yoruba). Two are from the Congo, and another is listed simply as "Africa." The other 18 are all "Chino"--Chinese indentured servants whose conditions closely approximately slavery. Indeed, they are here listed as having owners rather than the more ambiguous "patrono." This document dates from very early in the period of Chinese immigration to Cuba. The first Chinese on this list, Jesus, was captured on 2 December 1856. He is is described 23 years old and having "delgado de cuerpo, cara larga y barva" (slim body, long face and beard); his owner and town were unknown. All but 3 of the Chinese have unknown owners, but José aged 25 was considered property of Nicolas Sanchez of Cienfuegos, for example.
