21.
EMIGRATION FROM CHINA TO THE WEST INDIES.
and despatch and careful culture being objects of equal importance, he em- ployed-But let us quote his own words.
He employed a numbet of labourers from different parts. of the country, Bengallees, Dangars, and Chamars, in addition to whom he had a gang of "twenty Chinese. The rate at which each of these classes were employed "was rs. 2. 12 per month to the Bengalees, rs. 2 to the Dangars, and rs. 4 "to the Chamars, the Chinese being engaged at rs. 8 each. For a short time " he took no particular account as comparing one class with the other. After "a time, however, keeping each class in its own contract, he began to make comparisons, the land and labour generally that was allotted to each being precisely similar; and the result showed more exactly than he could have "well conceived that the Dangars did as much as two Bengalees, the "Chamars equal to Dangars, and the Chinese overran two Chamars; the "result fully proving the greater economy of the higher-paid labourer, his eight rupees a month being equivalent to twelve rupees to the Dangars, or "thirty-eight rupees to the Bengalees.
L
+6
<<
"Independently of this greater extent of labour performed by the Chinese, "his work is much more neat and regular, as he does not go over the field a "second time, but as he proceeds breaks the clods and collects the grass. In planting also they have the advantage of a correct eye, not requiring a line to "guide them. Their paces also being very accurate, those who have ever "cultivated will know the value of them.
K
This is not very clearly expressed, but it supports the belief that Chinese labourers, of whoni doubtless any number may be had at Singapore, would be found very useful on the sugar plantations of the West Indies."
Our correspondent elsewhere expresses some surprise that gentlemen here who pride themselves on their gardens do not employ Chinese gardeners, seeing how much these are renowned for skill in horticulture.
(Extracted from the Bengal Hurkaru of the 27th May 1851.)
C.
Memorandum of agreement made and entered into this
of
fifty
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
day
, a native of China, of the one part, and
between
of
in the territory of New South Wales, of the other part: Witnesseth that the said
agrees to serve the said
and such person or persons whom he may place in charge over in the capacity of shepherd, farm and general servant, and labourer, in the said territory, for the term of five years, to commence froni the date of the arrival of the said
in the said territory, and
the said
to obey all his lawful orders, and the orders of such persons as may be placed in charge over him. And the said
agrees to pay the said
, at the end of every three months, wages at the rate of three dollars per month, the said amount to be paid in sterling British money, at the exchange of four shillings per dollar, and also to provide the following weekly rations; namely,
And the said
1 lb. of sugar.
8 lbs. of flour.
9 lbs. of meat.
2 oz. of tea.
agrees to pay to the said
out of the first moneys or wages to be received by him, by four equal quarterly payments, the sum of six dollars now advanced to him.
No. 5.
JAMES T. WHITE Esq. to HENRY BARKLY Estj., Governor of
(Private and confidential.) SIR,
British Guiana.
Hong Kong, August 23, 1851.
I HAVE addressed this “private," as I consider that it would probably be disagreeable to the parties whose names are mentioned, if the nature of the various communications I have had with them relative to the cost of emigration should be open to public discussion.
EMIGRATION FROM CHINA TO THE WEST INDIES. 25
Messrs. Dent and Co. were at first unwilling to entertain any proposal on the subject, although two out of the three partners now resident in China were favourably disposed. Mr. Wilkinson Dent, the senior partner, considered that it was not within their legitimate province as a house of agency for merely commercial and pecuniary transactions, and was afraid that if the Chinese authorities should object to it it might interfere with their standard operations. This gentleman has been induced to waive his objections, and has informed me that if the partners at home do not view the measure unfavourably, he is willing that the house should undertake the responsibility. A communication on the subject was sent on by last mail, and I" referred" the house to the Land and Emigration Commissioners and to the British Guiana Loan Commissioners for detailed information as to the views and intentions of Government.
The terms on which Messrs. Dent are willing to engage in it are simply as an agency, and not for any definite sum paid on every emigrant landed in the colony. They will procure the emigrants, provide shipping and the necessary supplies, on the most favourable terms that can be obtained, and will charge the actual cost to the colony, with merely a commission for their own trouble.
Messrs. Russell and Co. are willing to undertake the operation either for a given sum payable on each emigrant landed, or on the same terms as I have stated with reference to Messrs. Dent and Co. They would decidedly prefer the latter system, and would conduct the business as a simple agency on behalf of the colony. They are a house of the first standing, and the business, it undertaken by them, would, I have no doubt, be well and satisfactorily per- formed.
The basis upon which their calculation of the probable expense is founded is as follows:
Freight would probably be obtained at 31. 10s. per ton,
a vessel of 800 tons register would carry about twelve tons of cargo, so that the freight for such a vessel would amount to
Food and other necessary supplies for 100 emigrants (estimating the voyage at five mouths, and the cost at 15s. a month,) would amount to
Local expenses estimated at
Contingencies, such as fitting up the vessel with lower deck, and caboose for cooking, cooking utensils,
&c.
Average cost per emigrant
L
s. d.
4,200
(} 0
1,500 0
100
U
U 0
-400 0
0
6,500 0 16
(
5
The above estimate will of course vary according to the rate at which freight may be obtained, but I believe that if emigration should be continued so as to settle down into an organised system, the average cost would probably not exceed 157. per head.
The estimate does not, of course, include money advanced to the emigrants previous to embarkation, which would be refunded to the colony out of their first earnings.
Both Messrs. Dent and Co., and Messrs. Russell and Co., are willing to make the necessary advances, if a special emigration agent should be appointed; but in this case it appears to me preferable that the pecuniary arrangements should pass through the Treasury at Hong Kong, on a plan similar to that which prevails in the Indian emigration.
The proposals made by Messrs. Dent and Co., and by Messrs. Rusell and Co., are on the understanding that the emigration is a public measure, carried on at the expense
of the colony, and sanctioned by Her Majesty's Government. They would not embark in it if it were a private undertaking.
I have, &c. (Signed)
JAMES T. WHITE. P.S.-I annex copy of a letter (a) which I have just received from Messrs. Dent and Co., and also extract of a letter (b) from the senior partner of Messrs. Russell and Co. These will serve to explain the views of the respective parties on the subject of emigration, if undertaken by them.
J. T. W.
D
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
minimuil TITLC.O. 885
1 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
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