ted sizable populations of free blacks and mulattos, some of whom became very successful in Euro-American society.(Klubock)
             Though often temporary, another means of escaping slavery was to flee. Sometimes slaves left their plantations to participate in secret dances. Other slaves attempted permanent escape. As Conrad wrote, "The problem of runaway slaves placed a permanent claim on the energies and assets of the slaveholding class" (362). The escape of slaves from their plantations was a common event in Brazil. The rosters of most slave owners included runaways, and the metropolitan newspapers were rife with advertisements with descriptions of runaway slaves and offers of rewards. (Conrad 362, 111)
             Gathering together in the jungles of frontier Brazil, runaway slaves formed towns and villages called quilombos (Conrad 367). These quilombos became centers of African culture where African languages and customs predominated. As in Africa, quilombos were often governed by a king. And given enough time, authority in a quilombo could become hereditary. (Conrad 368)
             Operating autonomously, quilombos near Brazilian towns were often able to offer their services in exchange for goods. Such arrangements were conducted outside of Brazilian law and efforts were made on the part of the government to suppress these contacts and eliminate the quilombos.(Conrad 368) A Brazilian police report written in 1876 describes the commercial trade conducted between two quilombos and the city of Rio de Janeiro. In addition to supplying the residents of the quilombos with provisions and equipment, Brazilians from Rio de Janeiro "always warned them when there was re
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