Slave cottage

A rather different day today. We went on a walk with a guide around the old estate behind the beach. It was for many years a sugar cane plantation and a cacao growing plantation. The slaves had to cut the cane, operate grinders to get sugar juice out of the cane then stir huge boiling vats of the juice to turn it into molasses, in terrific heat for hours at a time. I can’t remember whether this was under French occupation or British. It doesn’t matter both were equally bad. The slaves were treated appallingly. The few who escaped were often recaptured and to make an example of them to others , were executed.
Our guide’ s antecedents were some of the few who escaped on a hazardous journey over the mountains where they hid in caves. This tumbledown stone hut was their living accommodation at the plantation.
After slavery ended , East Indians were brought in to  continue the work and a lot of their influence still continues with the fusion of Asian and Caribbean food and flavours which we have been enjoying while we are here.
The guide showed us many fragrant and scented leaves used in cooking, many of them with medicinal properties according to his Grandmother who had a lot of knowledge which she has passed on to Meno our Guide.