Four
...
CHINESE LABOURERS.
274
PAPERS RELATIVE TO EMIGRATION OF
Governor DOHERTY's Report, in Appendix to Report of West Africa Committee, page 367.
"With reference to this subject, I made inquiry before leaving Sierra Leone as to the degree of property possessed by the chiefs in the persons or services of their subjects, and the compensation they would be likely to claim in consequence, in the event of the people emigrating; but the statements made to me were so contradictory, that I could arrive at no conclusion.
"The chiefs near Sierra Leone, having always shown an earnest desire to have their children and subjects educated, not only in school-learning, but in handicrafts and cultivation of the soil, would willingly, I think, consent to a body of their people proceeding to the West Indies, to be taught the cultivation of coffee and other tropical productions, on the condition of their return within four or five years. The arrangement would be beneficial both to Africa and the West Indies, and promote in the former the views of the Association lately formed for the extinction of the Slave Trade and the cultivation of the continent.
"The two tribes whose emigration would be most likely to prove advantageous to themselves and their West India employers, are the Ackoos and Cossoos; and I would advise the opening of a communication on the subject, through the liberated Africans of those tribes at Sierra Leone, with the native countries of both, the Cossoo country being but a three day's journey from the colony; while Yarriba, or the country of the Ackoos, is accessible by way of Badagry.' Acting Governor CARR's answers to Dr. Madden's queries, in Appendix to Report of West Africa Committee, p. 329.
"Thinks that many of the natives of the adjoining country would be desirous of emigrating to our colonies, if they were duly informed, by intelligent persons of their own colour, of what their actual condition would be in our colonies, adequately paid for their labour, and protected there."
Colonel JONES's answers to similar Queries, at p. 326 of the same Appendix. "Does not think they would, without positive proof of the certainty of bettering their condition."
N.B. It will be observed that these gentlemen do not express the slightest doubt of the free condition of these people. All that they seem to think would be necessary to induce many of them to emigrate, which of course implies their ability to do so, is that they shall be previously satisfied that they would thereby better their condition.
Countries adjacent to the Gambia. Sir H. B. HUNTLEY, recently Governor of the Gambia Settlements. Report in Appendix to Report of West Africa Committee, p. 226.
"The liberated African may be considered the labourer of Bathurst; if engaged, he is almost uniformly employed as such. Yet it is remarkable, that the merchants on all occasions prefer engaging as labourers the Tilliebunkas' and Seerawoolies,' who, for the sake of wages, come 600, 700, and even 1000 miles from the interior, in parties, in search of work at Bathurst. These men, like the Kroomen, work honestly, and for the same wages as the liberated African; the latter cannot be trusted unless constantly overlooked, and therefore those who can are preferred. Looking at Sierra Leone, the Kroomen are found to be the labourers; like the Tilliebunkas and Seerawoolies, they have taken the work from the hands of the liberated African."
Evidence of F. W. FINDEN, fifteen years resident at the Gambia.
7597. Emigration might be obtained from the Tilliebunkas' and Seerawoolies: they are in the interior, but they come down in large numbers to seek for work, and stop a few months and generally return to their own country in the rainy season, because there is no work there: they are generally hired for the timber cutting, which is very arduous work.'
7600. I should not think there would be any fear of their not being willing to go over to the West Indies to seek for work.
7604. "A few only come down who know they can get work. If it was well known that they could be sent to the West Indies, I think you might get down 4000 or 5000.
7640. Some of the Jollif tribe might be induced to emigrate.
7641. It is a numerous tribe.
7670. "The Tilliebunkas and Serawoolies I have seen, appear to be perfectly free.
Evidence of JOHN HUGHES, seventeen years resident in and near the Gambia.
8025. "I think the Seerawoolies alluded to by Mr. Finden, are the most likely tribe to emigrate.
8034. "I am of opinion, that if sufficient employment was afforded them, we might get, between the Bamburies and the Seerawoolies, 4000 or 5000.
8061. They appear to be perfectly free to go and come.'
Copy of a letter received from F. W. FINDEN since his return to Africa, dated Bathurst, December 3, 1842.
"Since my arrival at this place, I have made many enquiries from the Tilliebunkas' and the Seerawola' tribes, which are working in this colony, relative to emigration to the West Indies, and I find they are most willing to emigrate for a period of three years, or longer. They have stated to me, that if it were known in their country, I could procure as many as wanted, as they describe their population as most extensive: many are leaving this place for want of employment. The sanction of Government would, in my opinion, give great confidence to the people, and I feel convinced it would not be a failure.'
Evidence of F. SWANZY, eight years resident as Magistrate.
526. Perhaps if a few people were got to emigrate, and they returned in a few years, having improved their means and got money in two, three, or four years, others might be induced to follow their example.
CHINESE LABOURERS.
Gold Coast. Dixcove.
Extract from Governor MACLEAN'S Despatch relative to the surrender of Fugitives, in Cape Coast Castle. Appendix to Report of West Africa Committee, p. 145.
"Were it once promulgated throughout Ashantee and elsewhere, that runaways would, under any circumstances, receive protection from the British authorities, our settlements would speedily be inundated by hundreds and thousands of the offscourings of those countries. How then could those men be maintained?
N.B. On reference to the context, it will be found that Governor Maclean had been accused of delivering up fugitives. In justifying this practice he uses strong language, and assigns certainly a good reason why he could not possibly retain them at Cape Coast, no provision being made for their support or emigration; but he thus incidentally proves that if the British settlements were, as they ought to be, places of refuge, and free ingress and egress were permitted, great numbers of people from the adjacent countries would resort to Cape Coast.
Evidence of the Hon. Captain DENMAN, R. N.
6976. "If proper means were taken, I have not the least doubt the West Indies might get thousands of Kroomen to engage as labourers. The thing necessary is, to produce confidence in their minds, and that would best be done by some man-of-war on the coast taking over some of the head men, upon a promise that they should be returned by the same ship.
6977-7000. "Thinks the Kroomen may be allowed to embark direct from their own coast, receiving a certificate from a man-of-war, and that there would not be any possibility of abuse.
No. 20.
Copy of a LETTER from G. W. HOPE, Esq. to CHARLES CAVE, Esq.
Downing-street, November 23, 1843.
Sir,
I AM directed by Lord Stanley to acknowledge the receipt of the letter which you addressed to his Lordship on the 15th instant, as chairman of the West India Committee.
Charles Cave, Esq. &c. &c.
I have, &c. (Signed) G. W. HOPE.
No. 21.
COPY of a LETTER from CHARLES CAVE, Esq., to Lord STANLEY.
West India Committee Rooms, November 29, 1843.
My Lord,
I HAVE had the honour to receive from Mr. Hope an acknowledgment of the letter which I addressed to your Lordship on the 15th instant, and I would take the liberty of stating that, as this Committee have not yet imparted to the West India body generally the correspondence that has taken place with your Lordship, they are anxious to ascertain, before performing that duty, whether they are to consider the vitally important representations with which they have recently troubled your Lordship, as terminated by Mr. Hope's very brief communication; or whether they may not rather still indulge the hope that your Lordship will enable them to make a more satisfactory report to their constituents, than at the present moment it would be in their power to do.
The Right Hon. Lord Stanley, &c. &c. &c.
I have, &c., (Signed) CHARLES CAVE, Chairman.
No. 20.
No. 21.
202
238