The Portuguese in British Guiana

On 3rd May 1835, the Portuguese from Madeira arrived in British Guiana as indentured labourers [1]. They were industrious, thrifty, patient, persevering, and aspire to commercial trading [2]. After indentureship, they would rent or lease houses built by Creoles and convert them into shops, with rooms above or behind in which to live [2]. In this way wealth was accumulated quickly. Soon they controlled the bulk of the retail trade of the colony. The Portuguese retained their traditional cuisine such as cabbage, pumpkin soup, corn-meal, garlic pork, salt-fish, and wine that was imported from Madeira. Religion was a pillar of their culture and many were Roman Catholics. The Africans were school-masters, artisans, porters, gold and diamond diggers, and Balata bleeders. The East Indians loved the land and had a fondness for agriculture and pastoral activities. The Chinese were interested in trade and commerce, and they competed with the Portuguese in this regard. These main peoples together with the Amerindians were the driving labour force of the Colony [3]. The image shows a Portuguese grocery store in the Stabroek Market in 1900s British Guiana.



Sources

[image] -The UK National Archives, 1900s


Bibliography

[1] A brief history of the Portuguese in Guyana, Stabroek News, 2010-05-04.
[2] Bennett, G.H. (1866). An illustrated history of British Guiana. Richardson and Co.
[3] British Guiana (1924). British Guiana. Saunders and Phillips & Co.