On the nights of January 24-25, 1835, a rebellion of urban slaves took place in Salvador, Bahia. It was quickly put down. Some 70 rebels were killed and 500 slaves were arrested. The rebellion was evidently planned and led by “males,” that is, slaves of Islamic faith many of whom were literate in Arabic. This rebellion took place during a period of general unrest in Bahia following Brazilian independence. There were a series of military coups and violent riots which were nativistic and anti-Portuguese. This slave revolt was but one incident in a period of confusion. However, it was significant in what it revealed historically about urban slavery. Over 200 urban slaves were subjected to police interrogations and court cases occasioned a series of other records.
João José Reis of the Federal University of Bahia has made full use of these police inquiries and court records in his excellent book. His study is not focused only on the events of the rebellion, but also on what the documents tell us about urban slavery in the midnineteenth century in the city of Salvador. These documents indicate that the memories of African ethnic origin were strong; and there was little solidarity among the Afro-Brazilian population—slave or free. The aim of the rebellion was to kill the whites but to enslave the mulattoes. The testimony of the accused slave rebels reveals that, while the rebellion was led by Islamic slaves, the participants were “African” (born in Africa). The majority were of Hausa and Yoruban ethnic origin. The “crioulos” (slaves born in Brazil and free mulattoes) were already closely identified with Brazil, both linguistically and culturally.
Reis makes use of the testimony of the rebels as well as other records and studies of urban slavery of the period to provide a picture of the conditions of urban slavery. A large percentage of urban services in the city was provided by slaves. Many were “negros de ganho,” that is slaves engaged in gainful occupations who gave all or part of the proceeds to their masters. A large number resided apart from their owners. They were artisans, carriers of litter chairs, porters, musicians, domestic servants, barbers, and even street peddlers. Many slave “ganhadores” were obliged to pay a set quota per day to their masters (e.g., litter bearer, 400 reis per day; and a laundrywoman, 240 reis). It was estimated that a slave owner recuperated the capital invested in a slave after three years of productive work by such contracts. During the period the slave was self-supported. At least on the urban scene, this excellent and skillfully written book hardly supports any alleged humanized relations between master and slave in Brazil.
