Answer:
In “A New System,” the authors connect the story of John Smith in British Guiana with the story of the person selling vegetables in British India and the description of Indian workers in “Crossing the Black Water” to illustrate the wealth disparity that has been created by colonization. The authors describe how the East India Company had a monopoly on the export of sugar and other commodities, allowing them to earn tremendous profits, while the local people were left poorer than before. This is exemplified in the story of John Smith, who was unable to buy back his family’s land due to the high cost of sugar produced under the company’s new system. Similarly, the description of Indian workers as “living skeletons” reflects the exploitative nature of the company, who drained their resources for the benefit of the British Empire at great expense to the individuals. Thus, the authors use both stories to illustrate how the British Empire was built on the backs of the people it colonized and how, in some ways, the legacy of colonization continues to this day.