ABSTRACT
This chapter explores geographically, the far-flung areas of the world which offers provocative evidence for the claim that the sun never set on the British Empire. Martineau's writing on these regions addresses similarly wide-ranging imperial concerns, from slavery in the West Indies to post-emancipation, socio-economic reconstruction. And from the Civilizing Mission in the South Seas Islands to trade monopolies in Southeast Asia. Mirroring the ambitious inclusiveness of the Empire itself, this chapter's discussion illustrates intriguing links between such once-exotic, now-staple commodities as sugar and spice and the brutal circumstances that made their acquisition possible. The tale depicts slavery on a West Indian sugar plantation, where both ruling-class whites and slaves are demoralized by the institution, and domestic economy and communal prosperity are eroded. Mr. Bruce represents the planters' interests, which he claims are compromised by a poor economy, sugar monopolies, low productivity, and such calamities as hurricanes and slave insurrections.
