Articles of Agreement, made this
the Christian Era 186 , being the
7th year of the reign of Tungchi, Between,
day of
day of the
S. Abendanon, Esq., of Dutch Guiana, of the other part, as follows: The said
Melibus
127
in the year of
month of the
native of China, of the one part, and
doth hereby promise and agree to and with the said S. Abendanon, his executors, administrators and assigns, in manner and form following, that is to say ----
1. That he, the said
said S. Abendanon or his agent, embark on board the
shall and will so soon as he shall be required by the
ship
now lying at anchor in the Harbour of Hongkong and bound for Dutch Guiana, and remain on board the said ship henceforward until she proceeds to sea, and shall then proceed as a passenger on board the said ship, to Dutch Guiana,
for the purpose of carrying out the stipulations hereinafter contained on tho part of the said S. Abendanon.
2.--That the said
shall and will perform field and factory labour as S. Abendanon,
his executors, administrators and assigns may direct for the space of ten hours of each day during the terin of five years (each year rated at 300 and each week at 6 working days, festivals acknowledged by the Government excepted) to be computed from the day of the date of the arrival of the said ship in Dutch Guiana.
3.--That the said S. Abendanon shall provide the said
with a free
passage to the said Dutch Guiana, and shall supply him gratuitously with such food and clothings as may be necessary for the voyage.
4.That so long as the said
shall continue and be employed as such laborer
as aforesaid, he the said S. Abendanon shall well and truly pay or cause to be paid to the said
wages at the rate of Seven Dollars or an equivalent in the local currency per calendar month and medical attendance with board during his illness, but no wages during that time, and a bonus of (860) sixty dollars after the expiration of the five years service, and a piece of arable land.
5.-The said
promising punctually and faithfully to observe all ordinances on labor, and to show such respect and obedience as laborers or servants owe to those whose service they are indentured to.
6. The undersigned S. Abendanon or his agent declares to have engaged the above-mentioned
for the purpose and under the conditions aforosaid, promising faithfully to perform the said conditions, kindly to treat or causing to be kindly treated the indentured person, and to pay or cause to be punctually paid his wages at the end of every week.
Both parties declare to be entirely satisfied with the above conditions, and for the performance of the same to bind their persons and goods in the most efficient manner according to law.
7.-It is also agreed that when the before mentioned term of Five years shall be concluded, the said
shall be at liberty to remain in Dutch Guiana, to return to his native land, or to go to any
other country which he may choose.
The immigrants enjoy all civil rights held by native citizens.
Signed......
Signed.
for S. ABENDANON,