Title: Time And The River

Author: Zee Edgell

Reviewer: Barbara Nelson

Leah Lawson sits on the ground outside the hut that is her home in the Bay of Honduras in Belize (the former British Honduras). It is 1798 and mahogany was beginning to be profitable overseas. Leah was the daughter of Graham Lawson, a Scottish mahogany trader and slave owner and Hannah, a slave. Lawson had fathered a number of children in the settlement, among them, Sukie, whose mother was an Indian from the Miskito Shore.

Leah is sitting with her friend Will, who had been brought by slave ship from Africa to Jamaica and then to the Bay of Honduras. She is, however, concerned that he is involved in the slave uprising against his white master, Thomas McGilvrey and the other masters. Will is more concerned about having Leah become his sweetheart - a suggestion that, for some reason, makes Leah very uncomfortable.

That is how this book by Belizean-born writer and professor of English literature in the United States, Zee Edgell, begins.

Time And The River is an absorbing story of people who lived in a slave society in Belize. "The slaves, from Africa, and the various Indian groups lived between the British and the Spanish, doing their best to survive from day to day." Leah, the main character has dreams of a better future.

Graham Lawson never acknowledged any family connection in public. For example, if he passed Leah, he kept his eyes averted, pretending he was unaware of her presence. In that respect he was like "the reputed fathers of many slaves and free people of colour".

laundry

On Saturdays, the free days for the slaves, Leah did the laundry for the sisters Roslyn and Evelyn Clare. In exchange they taught her to read, sew and embroider. It was while she visited the Clare sisters that Leah met young Josiah who promised her that they would get married "just as soon as we can raise the money to gain your freedom. I love you so much," he told her. At that time, marriage was actively discouraged among people like Leah, but Josiah said they would go away to some place, where they would be far from the contempt of the settlers.

touch of history

Edgell adds a touch of history when, at the wake for Marshall Lawson, Leah's half-brother, Mr Fife Angas remarks to Thomas McGilvrey, "Lovely tune that. Amazing Grace I think it's called."

"I believe it was written by a reformed captain of a slave ship, the Reverend John Newton," McGilvrey replies.

At the wake Josiah tells Leah that he cannot keep his promise to her and he is going off to study in England. Leah's heart is broken.

But, shortly after Josiah leaves Leah's life takes a dramatic and unexpected turn. By 1807 she finds herself no longer a slave but a mistress in a slave society.

In her new role she has to make decisions that affect the lives not only of her immediate family - her mother Hannah and brother Sam - but also of her former friends, Will and Sharper.

The unexpected change in her status caused the slaves she knew to dislike her. Other slaves gossiped about her, envied her, hissed at her.

For some reason, her half-sister Sukie resented Leah and Leah herself eventually had to face the depth of her enmity towards Sukie especially when she realised that "her special friend, Will" who had previously wanted her for his sweetheart wished to set up house with Sukie.

punishment

One of the most upsetting passages in Time And The River describes the punishment meted out to Sukie for allegedly selling some silk handkerchiefs and keeping the money. First, she was given 10 lashes with the cat-o'-nine-tails by a strong woman slave. The following day, after she still refused to confess to something she had not done, she was stretched naked on the ground, her arms and legs tied with cords to four stakes and severely flogged 39 times.

An 1813 hurricane that blew on to Belize initiated even more far-reaching changes in Leah's life. She had to make decisions that were not always popular with Sam, her brother, Will, and Sharper. But she did what she believed was best for all.