23
was as many as 900
any one time, but now I am. informed
that only 200 are under direct treatment. A "card" system
of indaxing the patients has been enforced, and patients on
being regarded as cured are given a blue eard, without which
they are not allowed to leave the Colony. The present Chief
Medical Officer, Dr. Plácido Huertas, has laboured very ener»
getically for the past eighteen months, and a distinct
improvement in the health conditions of the Island are te
be noticed.
4. I have the honour to deny most definitely that
"alavery" in any form exists in the Island, on the Flantations
or elsewhere, The Goverment is only too anxious to attract
native labour from the African mainland, and any planter
guilty of ill-treatment of his hands is severely dealt with.
At the present time the Goverment is endeavouring
to bring Chinese labourers from the Canton district, and a
Commission is at present visiting the Far East with this
object. It remains to be seen if their efforts will meat
5.
with sucGOUN
I have, etc.,
(Signed) C.V. CHEV,