ABSTRACT
I began with the archives. There is a great deal of misconception about what archives contain. Yes, they contain official documents, but they also contain letters and other material by the indentured labourers themselves. They contain vernacular newspapers which are enormously important. One must learn to read the documents against the grain to gain deeper insights. Sometimes stories people tell about specific incidents can reveal a great deal. You have to listen very carefully. And then there is your imagination through which all this material is filtered and processed. It is a long and hard process, but it is enormously fulfilling when you see conclusions and patterns emerging. 1
