No. From and to whom.
Date.
(ii)
SCHEDULE.
SUBJECT.
Page.
1851.
1 J. T. White, Macao. 21st June
Esq. to Go-
vernorBark-
ly.
Reports his arrival at China, and the steps he had taken in furtherance of his mission rela- tive to the emigration of Chinese agricultural labourers to the West Indies (three Enclosures) No. 1. and 2.-Letter of Syme, Muir, & Co. tendering to land Chinese emigrants in British Guiana at 181. per head
2
5
No. 9. Mr. Durram's letter respecting the
expense of shipping Coolies
7
2
Ditto
Hung Kung,
19th July
In continuation of the report, 21 June
9
Ditto
23d July
Terms upon which Chinese emigrant labourers may be obtained for the West Indies (three Euclosures)
13
:
Enclosure 1.-Memorandum of agreement entered into for emigration of Chinese labourers to the Sandwich Islands Enclosure 2-Articles of agreement entered: into for the emigration of Chinese la- bourers to New South Wales Enclosure 3.-Articles of engagement for the emigration of certain Chinese to the Batanes Islands
1.5
16
17
+
Ditto
21st Aug. Further observations respecting the emigration of Chinese to the West Indies (three Enclo- sures)
18
Enclosure A.-Terms upon which emigrants
may be obtained
3
Enclosure B.-Comparative value of the Bengalees, Dhangalees, and Chinese as agricultural labourers
973
Enclosure C-Memorandum of agreement entered into for the emigration of Chinese to New South Wales
-
24
5"
Ditto
**
23d Aug.
Calculations relative to the cost of emigration
(two Enclosures)
24
Enclosure A.-Letter of Messrs. Dent
and Co.
►
زار
Enclosure B.-Letter of Messrs. Russell
and Co.
6
Extract from Dr. Bowring's Annual Report on
Trade
26
EMIGRATION FROM CHINA TO THE WEST INDIES.
No. 1.
JAMES T. WHITE Esq. to HENRY BARKLY Esq. Governor of British Guiana. SIR,
Macao, 21st June 1851.
I HAVE the honour to inform your Excellency that I arrived in China on the 26th ult., and that since then I have been engaged in making inquiries and obtaining information on all points connected with my mission to this
country.
2. I presented to the Governor of Hong Kong, Sir George S. Bonham, letters of introduction from Earl Grey and Lord Palmerston, and I have received from his Excellency every facility he could afford me.
3. My first intention was to have remained a few days at Penang, and Singapore, where large numbers of Chinese are engaged in the cultivation of sugar and spices, but I found that this would have occasioned considerable delay, by losing the direct steamer for China, and I thought it better to proceed at once to my destination. It may, however, be desirable to have some inform- ation with regard to the system pursued towards the Chinese as labourers in those colonies, and with regard to their habits and feelings as English colonists, and I shall remain there a few days on my return from China.
4. I have been in communication with gentlemen long resident in this country, who are well acquainted with the Chinese character, and are conversant with the language; and I have taken advantage of every opportunity that offered to make excursions into the country, in order to see the villages, and to acquire some information as to the habits, character, and condition of the peasantry. These excursions have necessarily been limited to the immediate neighbourhood of Hong Kong, Canton, and Macao, as the Chinese Government in this quarter is excessively jealous of foreigners, and it is impossible to proceed any distance without personal danger.
5. I have no hesitation in recommending the Chinese as emigrants for the West Indies. They are represented to me as tractable, easily managed when they understand the work they have to perform, and as possessing indomitable industry and perseverance in everything they undertake. As far as my own very limited experience extends, I have found them civil, of apparently quiet and inoffensive character, working late and early, and anxious to do anything that offered by which they might earn a small consideration. The repugnance shown to foreigners in the districts round Canton, arises, I believe, entirely from the instigation of the Government, and that the people, if left to then- selves, would allow travellers and strangers to proceed throughout the country without let or hindrance. I believe the Chinese to be of rather a mild character, and fully alive to the necessity of authority for their regulation and control; but harsh measures towards them will be certain of failure, and will rouse a spirit of resistance and insubordination, difficult to quell. They will not submit to be beaten or treated roughly, but will cheerfully obey any regulations which, when explained to them, they understand to be for their benefit, and which are founded on considerations of kindness and justice.
6. They are generally a strong muscular race, broad shouldered, and bony, and capable of enduring great and continuous fatigue. They are hardworking and industrious; and in physical ability for labour, and the endurance of toil, should consider one Chinese equal to two of the inhabitants of Bengal. With exception of beggars lounging about the Joss Houses (or temples), "I have not seen a single man idle. The heat of the climate here in the summer is about an average of that in Demerara; and I see the people engaged in ploughing land, cultivating rice, making embankments to recover land from the river, and in other occupations of agriculture, from morning to night; and 1 infer from this, that people who are so industrious in their own country will be good Jabourers in any other where their industry will meet with a better reward.
A
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 885
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON