According to Mawe, Mandango was the "greatest of the diamond works," and employed "about a thousand negroes." (p. 219) Here, under the supervision of four overseers, numerous slaves work one next to another in a long line. Each slave is bent deep over his individual trough, and rakes through sediment in search of diamonds. As Mawe explained,"there is no particular regulation respecting the dress of the negroes: they work in the clothes most suitable to the nature of their employment, generally in a waistcoast and a pair of drawers, . . . . While washing they change their posture as often as they please, which is very necessary, as the work requires them to place their feet on the edges of the trough, and to stoop considerably." (p. 225), Frontispiece for John Mawe's Travels in the Interior of Brazil (London: Printed for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, Paternoster-Row, 1812)., Engraving is probably the work of J.G. Warnicke who completed another large plate showing a mining scene set in the bed of the River Jigitonhonha (p. 220)., Fels Afro-Americana Image Project, Work Scenes.
Date
[1812]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Books & Other Texts | Rare Am 1812 Mawe 1555.Q frontispiece, https://digital.librarycompany.org/islandora/object/Islandora%3A2719
Illustration accompanies Chapter III, "Province of Rio de Jainero." As the title suggests, it depicts a free negress (presumably the woman closest to the left) and three market women. A small child, not mentioned in the title, is visible at the far left. Sheltered by a small canopy, the four women sell fruits and vegetables: pineapples occupy a basket in the right foreground, melons and squash (?) are scattered on the ground, and two women balance baskets on their heads. Three large sacks contain additional market-goods, possibly beans. While it is ultimately unclear, the image appears to show a conflict between the negress and the market-woman seated on the bench., Illustration in James Henderson's A History of Brazil: Comprising its Geography, Commerce, Colonization, Aboriginal Inhabitants, &c. &c. (London: Printed for the author, and published by Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orne, and Brown, Paternoster-Row, 1821), p. 70., Fels Afro-Americana Image Project, Work Scenes.
Creator
Shoosmith, C., artist
Date
[1821]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Books & Other Texts | Rare *Am 1821 Hender 1814.Q p 70, https://digital.librarycompany.org/islandora/object/Islandora%3A2724
