"Ramseyer's Comments on the Project of a "Slave Home""

(1) The idea of buying free slave children and bringing them up he is quite against - if they buy them free this will simply stimulate the traffic, and if they do not buy they free he does not see how the mission is to get them into its hands. (2) The idea of setting up some sort of colony for slaves who had escaped from their masters has more to recommend it, though - The project would be looked on with great hostility by the people of the country among whom the colony was set up - The slaves would not necessarily be thankful for being made responsible for themselves and expected to work regular hours. Especially in a situation where a master has several slaves, they are able to spend a lot of time idly and are less used to regular work than other Africans. Ramseyer could offer many examples from Abetifi ex-slaves who had been received by the missionaries or the members of the community but had left after no long period, no doubt many of them thankful to the mission. 'And as you know in Akim and on the coast there are many such ex-slaves who have settled in those areas and have become useful members of the churches’. (3) Where could project (2) be set up? Buem is unsuitable because the German Colonial Government is too weak to attack the slave trade (he quotes Clerk on this score); in Abetifi there is no more any slave trade. There are plenty of 'house-children' but these are well treated. Occasionally a man will bring back one or two slaves from Salaga, but generally in secret, and for his own use. Ateobu seems the most appropriate idea - in the Protectorate, but near slave caravan routes leading west from Krakye and Salaga.

05.05.1893

05.05.1893

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