Ramon Garcia Fernandez raises an interesting point about emancipation of slaves in Brazil. In the U.S.A. there was a similar concern, which was met not by burning records but by altering the U.S. Constitution. Amendment XIV, Section 4, reads that "... neither the U.S. nor any State shall assume or pay ... any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void." Alain's point is well taken. Mason Gaffney