Profile of Enslaved People in the Interprovincial Slave Trade from Maceió, Alagoas (1842-1882)

Abstract

This paper provides an overview about the interprovincial slave trade in the city of Maceió, capital of the present state of Alagoas. It analyzes the movement of people that left the city from the port of Jaraguá to be sold in other provinces. Passport records kept by the Secretary of the Police were used in gathering data on the gender and age the slaves exported from this port between 1842-1882. This data provides a basis for analyzing the presence of women among the captives leaving the province. The evidence presented in this study supports the arguments made in previous studies about the great presence of youngpeople in this commerce. The last part of the paper approaches the influence of this trade on the enslaved population in the province of Alagoas.