at New Orleans, who announce themselves as prepared to receive orders for any number of Coolies, whom their brother planters in Louisiana may require.
Mr Koopmanschap proposes to start in a few days for Hongkong, which he will make his headquarters, and whence he will endeavour to collect Coolies from the agricultural districts of China. He asserts that he will be able to obtain as many as may be required, about 10,000 Coolies could be sent during the first year. He offers to supply them at from $8 to $12 gold a head, and their passage money, which it is supposed will amount to from $80 to $130 gold, according to the distance inland, is to be advanced by the employers, but to be subsequently repaid by the Coolies themselves.
I have the honour to inclose a single copy of the form of Contract which I have been able to obtain, from which your Lordship will perceive that the principal conditions are service for the term of 5 years at the rate of $9 gold (about £1.17s.0d.) a month and subsistence, the passage money to be paid out of the first earnings.
No provision whatever is made for importation of women, or for paying the return passage of the Coolies to China at the end of the 5 years. It is to be supposed that a Contract similar to the one inclosed will be made with the Coolies by Mr Koopmanschap before they leave China; but I am as yet unable to state how many Coolies have been actually asked for by the planters in Louisiana, which is the only State where the matter seems to have been taken up seriously.