The Cost of Sugar(33)

When, after ten days or so, Rutger told Afanaisa that he was grateful to her and wanted to give her a coin, she began to weep and pleaded, “Please, masra, take me with you, please take me with you. The basya will whip me. I implore you, masra.”66

The following morning Rutger took his leave of Masra Jeremiah and said, “You will hear from us very quickly, Mr Jeremiah. It seems best to me that you come to the office in a week or two’s time. And, oh, yes, I’ll buy that slave-girl from you.”

Mr Jeremiah’s semi-toothless mouth opened in a wide grin when he heard this, and he said with a raised finger, “Didn’t I tell you, Le Chasseur, that my girls would be to your liking?”





Three weeks later, Daniel Jeremiah stood once again in Mr van Omhoog’s office. Mr van Omhoog told him that he and his companion had decided on the following. The company would extend Jeremiah’s loan under certain conditions. The white supervisor Mr Vredelings must be replaced.

Mr Jeremiah had absolutely no objection to this. He had always suspected that Mr Vredelings was not that good a white supervisor. While saying this he contentedly rubbed his fat hands together. Mr van Omhoog went on, “The new overseer will remain in the service of this administrators’ office. He will report monthly to this office, will receive his salary directly from us, and will carry out the orders given by this office. We will find another plantation for Vredelings. There are always plantations needing a white supervisor.”

If Mr Jeremiah was in agreement with everything, he could meet the new overseer straightaway. He could then travel back with him and he could send Vredelings back. Mr Jeremiah was in agreement with everything. This was a load off his mind. Le Chasseur was not so bad after all. He had obviously enjoyed the delicious meals and the delicious women on the plantation.

“Just a moment. You shall meet your new overseer. I’ll just go and fetch him,” said Rutger, leaving the room. A little bit later he returned, followed by a dark man, and said, “Mr Jeremiah, this is Mr Rozenblad, your new overseer.”

Daniel Jeremiah’s mouth fell open in amazement. A mulatto? Did they want to give him a negro as overseer on his plantation?

“This is impossible,” he stammered.

“What is impossible?” asked Rutger with a stern face.

“A mulatto, a nigger as overseer?”

“A capable, very cultured man, Mr Jeremiah,” said Rutger calmly.

Daniel Jeremiah was angry. What a mean trick this was. And he could not refuse, otherwise the loan would certainly not go through.

“So you want to saddle me with a mulatto, eh?”

“You can refuse,” said Rutger. “No Mr Rozenblad, no loan.”

“And of course I’ll have to invite him to my table. What are you playing at?” Mr Jeremiah was no longer speaking quietly.

Rutger remained exceedingly composed, as did Rozenblad and Van Omhoog, and said calmly, “Who says that Mr Rozenblad would want to join you at table? He is used to moving in highly civilized circles.”

“I shall write to your patron in the Netherlands about this.” Jeremiah’s face had turned a deep shade of crimson.

“Do that indeed, Mr Jeremiah. I am sure that Mr Rozenblad will be able to help you in that. He has a fine hand and makes no spelling mistakes. He is also an expert book-keeper. If you would now inform him as to when he is expected at the jetty to leave for your plantation, then our business is completed.”

When, ten minutes later, a still angry Daniel Jeremiah had left the office, Rutger laughed out loud. Mr van Omhoog had in the first place not seen much virtue in Rutger’s plan, but he had had to admit that a new overseer would be the best solution, and what was there against Mr Rozenblad? The colour of his skin? Rutger placed his hand on Mr Rozenblad’s shoulder and said, “Do you still dare to take this on, good friend? Don’t let yourself be intimidated; don’t be afraid. Do what you think is best.”

“I’m never afraid,” answered Stanley Rozenblad calmly. “I know what to expect and I’m up to it.”

38 ‘Prosperity and Prospect’.



39 “Yu, san ede yu fufuru?”

40 “Mi no fufuru, masra, ma a fadon na gron.”



41 “En yu, yu no wani wroko?”

42 “Yu n’e wroko tidé, go meki a dresi nengre luku yu.”

43 “Yu go na kukru go kari a koki.”

44 “Merki nanga eksi de na kukru?”

45 “Seni den kon dyaso.”



46 “Opo, dan, opo.”



47 “Puru a anu, noso a o pori na sukru.”

48 “Go kari a dresi nengre.”

49 “Yu betre luku bun yere.”