Reports on "Mahometans" in the British Caribbean, 1788

This testimony comes from a report to Parliament by the Board of Trade. The report contains much useful information about the condition of enslaved people living in the British Caribbean colonies. The source compiles the returned answers of several agents or the government officials of the British colonies. Interestingly, most colonies did not return an answer on this particular question of "Mahometans" which may indicate they had very little or no information on this subject.

Whether any Negroes in the Islands are Mahometans?

[Jamaica]

What is the Religion of those Negroes who are not Christians? Are they Pagans, or Mahometans?

They are either Pagans or Mehometans, but principally Pagans. The Mahometans are those that come from the Mandingo Country chiefly.

[Barbados]

Brathwaite – I understand there are very few: I believe none but the Mandingo Negroes.

Council of the Island – We have never heard of any.

[Antigua]

Mr. Hutchinson – I never heard of there being any Negroes in that Island that are Mahometans.

Dr. Adair – Mahometans are certainly sometimes sold as Slaves in our Colonies.

Dr. Adair—knew Three Persons on this Description; One of them a Negro Man, and resided some Years in the Colony, and was able to give a tolerable Account of his Faith. The others were young Women, who were distinguished from the Negro Tribe by the Complexion and Hair of a Madagascar Indian, and seemed to have been brought from a Country very remote from that which is termed the Slave Coast.

[…]

It is not known that any of the Slaves in this Country are Mahometans; some very few have been supposed to write, or have pretended to write, the Arabic Language.

[Montserrat]

N. B. No Answers have been returned by the Council and Assembly of the Island the 22d to the 27th Head of Inquiry inclusive, respecting the Practice of Obeah, and whether many of the Negroes are Mahometans.

[Nevis]

N. B. No Answers have been returned by the Legislature of the Island the 22d to the 27th Head of Inquiry inclusive, which Heads relate to the Practice of Obeah, and whether many of the Negroes of the Island of Nevis are Mahometans.

[Grenada and St. Christopher]

The Negroes distinguished by the Name of Mundingoes, are generally Mahometans by Profession, and bear the external Marks of it, but know very little of its Doctrines or Tenets. Their Priests, called Mirabous, do not claim any Skill, but have less Influence over their Sick, than the Obeah-men over the other Negroes Natives of Africa.

[Dominica]

N. B. No Answers have been received from the Island of Dominica to the Heads of Inquiry from No 22 to No 27, both inclusive; which Heads of Inquiry relate to the Practice of Obeah, and whether many of the Negroes of the Island of Dominica are Mahometans.

[St. Vincent]

N. B. No Answers have been returned by Governor Seton from the 22d to the 27th Head of Inquiry, both inclusive; which Heads of Inquiry relate to the Practice of Obeah, and whether many of the Negroes in this Island are Mahometans.

[Bermuda]

Neither Governor Browne, or the Agent, have returned Answers to the Heads of Inquiry from No 22 to No 27, inclusive; which Heads relate to the Practices of Obeah, and whether many Negroes in Bermuda are Mahometans.

[Bahamas]

No Answers have been received from the Earl of Dunmore from the 22d to the 27th Head of Inquiry inclusive; which relate to the Practice of Obeah, and whether many of the Negroes in the Bahama Islands are Mahometans.