THE ECONOMICS OF THE ZAMBESI MISSIONS, 1580–1759

 

CONTENTS:

- INTRODUCTION;
- PART I - The Dominican Mission (with sections - The Foundation; The Economics: 1. Royal Stipends and Tithe; 2. The Lands; 3. The Results);
- PART II - The Jesuit Mission (with sections - The Foundation; The Resources: 1. The Lands; 2. Royal Stipends; 3. Other Sources of Income; Economic Development till 1759: 1. Mulambe and Quelimane; 2. The Missions along the Zambezi; 3. The Moçambique College; The Jesuit Economy in 1759: 1. The Inventories and Auction Lists; 2. The Tete Prazos: a) the Free Tenants and their Tribute; b) Agriculture on the Prazos in General Milho Wheat, Rice and other Crops Stock; c) the Management of the Prazos; d) the Slaves; e) the Gold Trade; f) Ivory, Cloth and Beads; g) the Moçambazes; 3. Sena in 1759; 4. Caia in 1759; 5. The Recognizances; The Mission without the Prazos; Conclusion; Glossary; Bibliography).

 

"Though the Portuguese missions along the Zambezi from the sixteenth to the eighteenth centuries were the first attempts to evangelize the interior of Southern Africa, no serious attempt to study them was made till 1967. The only previous accounts of them which English readers were likely to come across, were some short sections towards the end of Theal's 'History and Ethnography of Africa South of the Zambezi' and some chapters in S.R. Welch's works, which after Boxer's article in the first number of the 'Journal of African History' are not likely to be taken seriously. Even in Portuguese there was little or no scholarly work explicitly dealing with the subject. The studies published in 1967 were not greatly concerned with the economy of the Zambezi missions; that is to say how they obtained their resources, how these were used, and the missions' influence on the economic life of Zambezia. It is this gap that the present thesis tries to fill. The Dominican missionaries relied primarily on the stipends promised by the crown, and they were greatly embarrassed when these were not properly paid. The Jesuits, following the traditions of agricultural enterprise which they showed in other parts of the Portuguese empire, notably in Brazil, developed their prazos. The thesis examines the tribute paid by the Africans living on these, the yield in corn and stock, how they were managed, and how the slaves were employed on them. The extent to which the missions were employed in trade is also considered, the heavy debts which had been incurred to them, and the significance of these in relation to Zambezian society. Some indication of how the resources were spent is indicated by an examination of the large establishment at the mission's headquarters at Sena. Finally the necessity of this material support is shown by the missions' collapse when it was withdrawn." (from the Preface)

Softcover; Text in English; Collation complete - False title, Title page, 189 pages, with 2 full-page sketch maps; Binding is tight and firm, remains strong and secure with minor bumping and negligible imperfections, overall in excellent condition. Pages/text block bright and clear, with minor yellowing to the egdes of white margins, no foxing or marks throughout. An perfectly preserved copy of this scarce item. 

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