512
Although not myself an eye-witness (of the cruelties described) I think there may be something in the statement, and I feel it my duty to transmit it in original for the consideration of the Govr. Per.
The Govr had previously to this received a despatch from the Italians which stated that the emigrant passengers on board an Italian vessel bound from Macao to Penang had been guilty of murder, piracy and mutiny on the high seas. At Amoy and Foochow, cases occurred, while a ship called the Macao shipping Cookies was on passage. Many of these jumped overboard during the night, of whom one it appears was drowned. Another, also who had jumped overboard was met in the street and, it is said, belonging to the Coolie Agency carried off and flogged? Seeing that the Chinese labourers in Peru have complained to the American Minister of the cruelty of their masters, it is very probable that the acts of murder and piracy mentioned in the Italian despatch as having been committed by Chinese labourers on board a ship bound to Peru were caused by acts of cruelty on board; and a good idea may also be formed of the kind of cruelties practised upon the Chinese labourer by his hard-hearted master in Peru.