AGENT
1
}
?
otherwise would be calculated to effect are defeated by the provision making it necessary for emigrant ships from Amoy and Swatow to proceed to Hongkong before clearing out for their voyage. The general severity and stringency of the Act besides may perhaps tend to a similar result by exposing accidental and trivial omissions to ruinous penalties, - the risk of which none will venture to incur. Whether from one or both of these causes,
nearly all British vessels have
abandoned the employment, which
is now carried on by foreign vessels
not subject to any supervision
whatsoever.
The passage from Amoy or
Swatow
301
Swatow to Hongkong, except in clipper vessels, is during the South West Monsoon, of considerable length, and would proportionately increase the discomfort of the coolies, who besides having to undergo a voyage of several months' duration are often kept on board ship many weeks before starting while their complement is being filled up. If an Emigration Officer were stationed at Amoy as
well as
Hongkong, the passage
hence to Hongkong, would be saved and vessels from Swatow might proceed either to Hongkong or Amoy,
as the direction of the monsoon should make preferable.
One very important hint for the attention of an Emigration Officer