T HE IN FLUE N CE OF T H E T R A D E M E N IN T H E POLITICS O F T H E P L A N T A T I O N E S T A T E S IN T H E E A R L Y C O L O N I A L P E R I O D 247 T H E IN FLUE N CE OF T H E T R A D E M E N IN T H E POLITICS O F T H E P L A N T A T I O N E S T A T E S IN T H E E A R L Y C O L O N I A L P E R I O D 247