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The
beginning of the 19th Century introduced to Exuma (and to
the other islands of the Bahamas) the third, and tragic, turning
point in its history: the failure of cotton crops. It was
a slow, creeping catastrophe for the Loyalists and from this
time on their fortunes took a steady downward course.
The original soil
of Exuma had limited capacity at best with only a thin layer
of topsoil atop coral sand or harder coral base material.
While these conditions supported some virgin growth, virtually
all the soil was removed as the Loyalists cleared the land
for their cotton fields. As a result the soil was then exposed,
vulnerable to high winds, the occasional downpours and the
rare hurricanes that beset the island. The land was then overplanted
and exhausted with no means to revitalize it and the weakened
plants also became infested with chenille bug, a caterpillar-like
worm that turned the cotton fibers a reddish color.
The government
of the colony attempted to act, but its efforts were ineffective.
Investigations were conducted; questionnaires were sent to
the prominent planters asking for opinion and advice; and
the assembly was quickly adjourned to permit the members to
return to their troubled fields. But even the most experienced
and knowledgeable planters saw little hope for successful
cotton growing in the future. By 1802, the reign of the cotton
economy was dead, never to rule again on Exuma or elsewhere
in the Islands. Planters began to drift away. Some went to
Nassau to enter business or trade, some few went to England,
others returned to the United States where the climate had
improved for returning Loyalists. A handful stayed on in Exuma,
hoping to resuscitate their cotton fields, and some probably
had nowhere else to go. Efforts were made to sell properties.
but under these depressed conditions sales were rarely successful.
In many cases, the lands were simply abandoned and the slaves
left to shift for themselves.
Emancipation
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