From a Return transmitted to this Department by the Govt of Macao, re: to the working of the Board of Superintendence of Chinese Emigration from the date of its establishment in Sept. 1868, it may be seen that out of 34,811 Coolies S. bound for Havannah & other country, in 8622 have returned to their own native places: there were 195 who did not emigrate because they were claimed by their relatives. 62 fell sick & withdrew from the Superintendent's supervision, & 59 from emigration on arriving or after finally signing the respective contracts; and from the said return it appears that 169 Brokers have been punished with from three to six months imprisonment with hard labour & fine for having entered the Superintendant's office or falsely procured coolies to ship.
It is therefore proved by these statistics that steps have been taken to ascertain the spontaneity with which Chinese emigrants from the Port of Macao are allowed the option of desisting from their intentions even after signing the contracts, & that when they do desist they are sent back to their own native places, whereas on the contrary at Hong Kong they are compelled to embark after they have signed their contracts.
It is alleged in carrying the Coolie Emigrants from Macao that they are compelled to emigrate because each Corcha with 50 emigrants is accompanied by a police soldier, & because there is a soldier on the watch on board each ship. It is true that such is the practice, & that all coolie ships are accompanied by three men of the Maritime Police until the Pilot quits the ship: but all these precautions are for the purpose of preventing the coolies from being robbed in the boats when conveyed; & also of preventing any disturbance among them on board.