1767-Jan.-07: Antoine, a man of the Congo nation, was listed as a runaway belonging to Mr. Chapdu, a merchant in Cap-Français.

1767-Jan.-07: Antoine, a man of the Congo nation, was listed as a runaway belonging to Mr. Chapdu, a merchant in Cap-Français. His brands were recorded as “CHAPDU” on his body with “AU CAP” underneath, explicitly linking his identity to the man who claimed to own him and the capital city. Flight in the colony’s urban centers was common due to the opportunities for concealment among the large and mobile population. Branding was a standard tool of colonial surveillance, used to discourage escape and facilitate the return of human assets.