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.
Oleh sebab itu, di pengadilan, pedagang budak berhasil lolos dengan berargumen bahwa penduduk pribumi ini ​ — meskipun ditipu dan dibawa secara paksa — ​ sebenarnya bukan budak melainkan buruh kontrak yang akan dibayar dan, nantinya, dipulangkan.