Dispersion of commerce the beaches
- Trade
Spread of Commerce through the Beaches
In the 17th and 18th Centuries commerce tried to evade taxes by using the beaches, where English, French and Dutch ships stopped to take on water and acquire merchandise for commerce carried on in Guinea. They bought cotton cloths, pigs, chickens, goats, cows, horses, donkeys, nuts, fresh fruits, all without customs payments, but without applying the “use and custom”… In return they left old clothes, hats, knives, containers, wheat, oil, flax, silk, taffeta, ironmongery…
In 1702 the Ouvidor Geral (colonial management) António da Fonseca Escobar refers to the differences between the inhabitants and foreigners on the beaches leading to alerts on the island (Santiago, where 38 ports are recorded), as it was known that there were sailors who disembarked to rob cattle, slaves and even free men.
This commerce had new rules, as the rabidantes or “atravessados” (hawkers) became active, buying in bulk from the producers and dominating the markets of the beaches. Sometimes this caused disputes between the producers and the “powerful men”.
The English ended up dominating the commerce of the islands to such an extent, in search of fern, food, cloth and salt, that they came to occupy Santo Antão, (buying the island from the Donataries), Brava (for 6 months) and they frequented Maio like the masters of the island. However in the 19th Century, it was S. Vicente where the subjects of her Majesty would make their presence most felt in Cape Verde, thanks to trade in coal and later laying the submarine cable for communications between Europe and America.
The 19th Century was the century of salt for the economy of Cape Verde. Ships from England, Brazil and North America came to the islands of Maio and Boa Vista to stock up on “white gold”, and the name of Lhana was also changed to Sal. In Boa Vista, Sal Rei grew in the shadow of this important trade, becoming an important trading point, led by the commercial initiative of the Benoliel family which, together with the Carvalho family, left their mark on this era of economic progress for the island and for Cape Verde.
Spread of Commerce through the Beaches
In the 17th and 18th Centuries commerce tried to evade taxes by using the beaches, where English, French and Dutch ships stopped to take on water and acquire merchandise for commerce carried on in Guinea. They bought cotton cloths, pigs, chickens, goats, cows, horses, donkeys, nuts, fresh fruits, all without customs payments, but without applying the “use and custom”… In return they left old clothes, hats, knives, containers, wheat, oil, flax, silk, taffeta, ironmongery…
In 1702 the Ouvidor Geral (colonial management) António da Fonseca Escobar refers to the differences between the inhabitants and foreigners on the beaches leading to alerts on the island (Santiago, where 38 ports are recorded), as it was known that there were sailors who disembarked to rob cattle, slaves and even free men.
This commerce had new rules, as the rabidantes or “atravessados” (hawkers) became active, buying in bulk from the producers and dominating the markets of the beaches. Sometimes this caused disputes between the producers and the “powerful men”.
The English ended up dominating the commerce of the islands to such an extent, in search of fern, food, cloth and salt, that they came to occupy Santo Antão, (buying the island from the Donataries), Brava (for 6 months) and they frequented Maio like the masters of the island. However in the 19th Century, it was S. Vicente where the subjects of her Majesty would make their presence most felt in Cape Verde, thanks to trade in coal and later laying the submarine cable for communications between Europe and America.
The 19th Century was the century of salt for the economy of Cape Verde. Ships from England, Brazil and North America came to the islands of Maio and Boa Vista to stock up on “white gold”, and the name of Lhana was also changed to Sal. In Boa Vista, Sal Rei grew in the shadow of this important trade, becoming an important trading point, led by the commercial initiative of the Benoliel family which, together with the Carvalho family, left their mark on this era of economic progress for the island and for Cape Verde.
