For another, English law did not have a comprehensive definition of slavery. Thus, in court, blackbirders successfully argued that these islanders ​ — although deceived and taken forcibly — ​ were not really slaves but were indentured laborers who would be paid and, in time, sent home.
ერთ - ერთი მიზეზი ის იყო, რომ ბრიტანეთის კანონი არ ვრცელდებოდა სხვა ქვეყნის ქვეშევრდომებზე.