The Indigo Girl

Eliza is awakened by the sound of the enslaved workers on her father’s plantation singing while they harvest the crops. After washing, she meets with her father, who tells her that he has been summoned back to Antigua, their former home and plantation, because war is brewing between the English and the Spanish. Hearing this, Eliza believes that she may reunite with her childhood friend, an enslaved boy named Benoit “Ben” Fortuné. However, her father explains that he needs his South Carolina plantations to turn a profit so that he can secure a higher position in the British government. He asks her to remain and oversee his affairs until her brother, George, comes of age in a few years and takes ownership of the plantations. Eliza initially hesitates because it is unorthodox for a woman to oversee anything beyond domestic duties. However, she wholeheartedly accepts the challenge. In a letter, she tells Mrs. Bodicott that she has chosen to live on the plantation in the country instead of moving into town to overlook her family’s affairs.

Eliza’s mother, Ann, faints at the news of her husband’s departure and Eliza’s new role. Eliza overhears her parents speaking privately. Ann fears for Eliza’s future marriage prospects and the family’s overall reputation, but her father is resolute in his decision, although he does later admit to Eliza that he wishes she were a son. Later, Eliza journeys with her father and their enslaved driver, Quash, to meet with her father’s overseers and friends, telling them to bring any plantation-related issues to Eliza. On the way, they discuss the political tensions between Spain and England, and Eliza’s father explains why it is safer for Eliza, her sister Polly, and her mother to remain in South Carolina. Her father tells her that should she encounter any problems, she should rely on the Pinckneys—specifically, Charles Pinckney, who approves of Eliza’s new role and whose company Eliza enjoys.

At her father’s Waccamaw plantation, Eliza encounters Starrat, one of her father’s overseers. Starrat always insists on using a whipping post to “punish” enslaved workers, despite her father’s repeated requests to have the post removed. When Eliza’s father instructs Starrat to contact Eliza for any delays or changes in the plantation’s harvest, Starrat implies that she is unfit to handle the job and the enslaved people on her own. As they talk, Eliza notices that some of the plantation women wear blue skirts. Starrat confirms that the dye used is homemade indigo. On their way to Georgetown, Eliza asks her father for permission to diversify their yielding crops, and he agrees. When she questions him about Starrat’s continued employment despite his brutal treatment of the enslaved workers, her father cautions her against becoming too friendly toward enslaved people. He explains that doing so could prove dangerous for her if other planters were to find out about it. Eliza is reminded of her forbidden friendship with Ben and the 1736 uprising in the West Indies, which saw the execution of Cesar, an enslaved man whom her father had cherished.

The Lucas family goes to Charles Town. From there, Eliza’s father will depart for Antigua. The family is welcomed by the Pinckneys, who have a townhouse in Charles Town. During dinner, they discuss Eliza’s new role, and she claims that she is simply fulfilling the duty of the family’s eldest child by taking over the plantation—the only exception to this convention is that she is a daughter and not a son. Her mother disdains the acceptance and encouragement that Eliza receives for her future role, scorning her plans to cultivate indigo. That night, Eliza remembers the secrets that Ben shared with her about indigo when she was a child; he had inherited the knowledge from his grandmother. Eliza believes that a successful venture into indigo would fend off any prospective and unpleasant marriage arrangements. She plans to speak to her father about her ambitions in the morning.

The next morning, she finds her father supervising the loading of his belongings. She asks him to send Ben from their Antigua plantation so that he can help her with her indigo plans. Her father refuses, both because doing so would incense her mother and because Ben has already been sold to an indigo maker in Montserrat. Eliza recalls that when she was a child, she followed Ben, and when he ignored her, they started a playful fight, throwing berries at each other. However, when she reached for poisonous berries, Ben saved her. She now feels guilty and emotionally distraught to learn that he was sold, but she conceals her emotions and again entreats her father for help with her indigo ambitions. When her father begins to question her ability to take care of the plantations, she assures him that she is up for the challenge.

At the harbor, Eliza’s mother reprimands her for observing the shirtless bodies of the men loading the ships. Her father bids them farewell and departs for Antigua. The following day, Eliza and her mother return to their home in Wappoo and argue over Eliza’s new responsibilities. Ann believes that Eliza’s position is unladylike and is secondary to Eliza’s marriage prospects, but Eliza knows that her duties are crucial to the family’s success. To appease her mother, Eliza proposes to have a standing visitation with their neighbors, Mary Chardon and her parents, the Woodwards. Once home, Eliza pens a letter to her father and a second one to Mr. Deveaux, a neighbor and friend.

Eliza and her sister, Polly, go to meet Mr. Deveaux at his home. Mr. Deveaux and Eliza discuss the indigo-making process and learn why the plant is so difficult to grow in South Carolina. Although he is an avid horticulturalist, even Mr. Deveaux has been unable to grow indigo, so he recommends that Eliza hire a consultant. He offers her woad indigo seeds for her to practice on while she secures West Indian indigo seeds from her father. Eliza plans to request aid from anyone at her family’s Waccamaw plantation who has knowledge of cultivating indigo. On the ride home, Eliza flouts social customs and rides on the front bench with Quash. As Polly sleeps, Eliza asks Quash about improving the plantation dwellings for the enslaved workers and inquires whether he has any knowledge of indigo. She thanks him for his suggestions but then feels guilty for thanking a man who has no choice but to help her.

Over the next few weeks, Quash renovates the dwellings of the enslaved workers, using lumber that Eliza acquires. He also helps her clear enough land to plant the woad indigo from Mr. Deveaux. After Quash goes to Waccamaw and returns with additional materials, he tells Eliza about an enslaved woman named Sarah who has knowledge of indigo making. By the end of August, the woad indigo still does not sprout, so Eliza consults with Mr. Deveaux, who recommends doubling the watering cycles. One Sunday in early September, Eliza’s enslaved maid, Essie, warns Eliza that she had a spirit dream. Essie tells Eliza to be careful when she goes by the river. As Eliza goes to the dock, all seems still and dark, but she suddenly hears the pounding sound of drums.

Eliza runs to the stables to find Quash, but no one is there. Essie emerges from the house and tells Eliza to hide inside. Eliza demands that everyone on the plantation hide as well, and she goes to secure the gun in her father’s study. She does not take it with her, but she is reassured by its presence. She tells her mother and sister to stay inside. By noontime, the drums grow louder. From the window, she watches with her sister as a dark-skinned man stands in a boat and makes a cawing sound. No one answers, and after a time, the man and the boat continue their journey down the river. Eventually, Eliza notices that Quash camouflaged himself in the forest and is now wiping something away from the dock post. After a reprieve, Eliza believes that the plantation has skirted a violent uprising. She worries about the welfare of their neighbors.

Charles Pinckney arrives the next day at noon to check on them and confirms that there has been a rebellion of enslaved people. Soon, more neighbors arrive at Eliza’s home, and they discuss the subjugation and repercussions of the rebellion. Charles believes that the rebellion was instigated by the Spanish, who promised enslaved people their freedom if they joined their war against the English by taking over South Carolina. When he notices the absence of “Indian Peter,” one of Eliza’s father’s enslaved workers, and mentions it to Eliza, she avoids confirming his absence, fearing that he might be hunted down if she does. She invites Charles to stay the night, and that evening, she tells him of her financial concerns. With her father positioning himself to become the governor of Antigua, she worries that the family will not raise enough money from their current crops. A few days later, Peter returns, and Eliza makes no mention of his absence. In December, days before her 17th birthday, Eliza finally receives a package from her father. It contains two letters (one for her and one for her mother) and small, black indigo seeds.