128
SIR,
CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO
Craignish Estate, April 16, 1953. I AM in receipt of your note of the 15th instant regarding a return of my Chinese immigranta. I received 23, numbered as follows:-50, 265, 43, 132, 255, 134, 242, 4, 237, 356, 269, 46, 132, 244, 153, 223, 122, 27, 28, 35, 446, 38, 397. These people are now all in good health. Two days after they arrived on the estate I put them out to gang- work, to weed young canes, at which they continued under the superintendence of an overlooker for three weeks; during that time one was employed cooking for the others, and one was off duty for ten days from a cut on the sole of the foot, and another two days from having been stung by a scorpion; at the end of the three weeks I tried them with task-work, but as I was not so much satisfied with their work in that way, I again put them into gang-work. As I have kept no exact account of the cost of the blankets, clothing, and provisions I have given them, I cannot inform of the cost of a task or day's work, but from a calculation I have made, I think their labours cost me about 60 cents per day. I am, however, decidedly of opinion that they will shortly be very much reduced; and as to their general capacity, I must say, that during upwards of 30 years experience as a practical planter in this island, I never saw people more willing to do their work than these men; and, if they continue as they are now doing, I have no doubt but they will be the best immigrant labourers we have ever had in Trinidad.
I have, &c
Henry Mitchell, Esq.,,
Acting Agent General of Inimigrants.
SIR.
(Signed)
COLIN CAMPBELL.
Immigration Office, April 20, 1853.
I HAVE further the honour to report that, since the preceding statement was written, I visited the Camilen estate, on which 25 Chinese are located, as will be perceived by the proprietor's return; their behaviour and work was of sutficiently promising nature.
In the Napaimas," where the prevalence of much sickness existed 10 days previously, I have to report complete convalescence. With few exceptions, nearly all are at work. This was particularly the case at William's Ville "and" Garth." There was only one estate on which there was an evident determination not to work; name, the "Friendship." A fight nad taken place on the previous day (Sunday) between the Creoles and Chinese, in which two of the latter and one of the former were wounded on the head with sticks. It was evidently a drunken affray, but after a careful investigation of several hours before the justices, the evidence was so little reliable as to necessitate the leaving the matter to the judgment of the stipendiary justice, at his visit on the ensuing Friday. It appeared to me that there was a misunderstanding between the superintendent and the new labourers, but as we could not ascertain its nature, I advised Mr, Begg, the proprietor, before proceeding to extreme measures, to shift the people and give them a trial on the --William's Ville," one of his other estates in the neighbourhood, where a set of Chinese were working well, as per following report.
SIR,
Extract of report on Chinese, from John Harris, Esq.
G
William's Ville estate."
April 16, 1853. I AM in receipt of your communication respecting the Chinese, and in reply beg to state, that, as immigrants, they are in a fair position, and stand in about the same ratio as the coolies,
I have not the least doubt in my own mind that they will prove equally valuable, they are at present more expensive; but, with judicious management, that will be soon got On this property they have been sickly for some time, but now all are at work. save two, one of whom was hurt accidentally.
uver.
The deaths on this estate since 1815 have been 4 coolies in 1846 and in 1847. There have been none since.
I have. &c. (Signed) JOHN HARRIS.
It is to be remarked regarding this estate, that the total number of immigrants received since 1846 to date has been 230; of these, many who propose returning shortly to Calcutta have been six years on the estate, have been regularly industrious, and for the most part are sufficiently wealthy to retire to India with a competency,
Mr. Rastant of “Camden," "Çaraceus," and "Susannah" estates writes as follows:—
MY DEAR SIR. *
THE following statement is the expense of one month's labour of the 25 Chinese immigrants allotted to me :-
Cash paid for one month's wages
50 lbs. of rier
Fish and pack
-
Medical attendance
Proportion of gort bounty
One blanket
$4 00
2 00
0 GO
( 33
U 52
0 80
$8 26
EMIGRATION OF CHINESE COOLIES.
129
I had for these 8 dollars 26 cents an average of 22 days work from each, which makes an average for one day's labour 37 cents. With regard to their conduct, health, &c. I beg leave to report,
That they are a set of very good, obedient, and hard-working labourers. That during the whole month there were only two of them sick; one is asthmatic and incurable, the other was a case of sore throat with fever, now recovered. Not one has had even a chigoe. That they appear to be well contentel, and are as pleased with me as I am with them. That the only difficutly I have is the want of an interpreter; and I am of opinion that as soon as I can make myself understood by them they will be as good, if not better, than the coolies; and that I have a inost, sanguine hope of their being in a very short time the best lot of labourers we have in Trinidad. I also take the liberty to state that during
the three years I have resided on this estate, the average number of coolies I had in my employment was 48, sometimes more, sometimes less; and that during the said three years there was not a single death; among the creoles was 11. That on the two upper estates, "Susannah," and "Caraccas," during the same period, there were no deaths; the number of coolies on the two estates being 80 to 90.
I have, &c. (Signed) J. ROSTANT.
On the "Orange Grove" estate, where, as has been alrealy stated, they give satisfaction, the total expense of 25 for the first month was 185 dollars 25 cents; 7 dollars 50 cents per head.
The following is a communication, of an earlier date, from Mr. James Taylor of Broomage
Broomage Estate, March 26, 1853. I DULY received your much esteemed communication regarding the then expected Chinese immigrants, and before I had an opportunity of replying, I had the satisfaction of receiving the allotment of these people sent to this estate.
estate :- DEAR SIR,
To your observation, and to the remarks quoted in the "Port of Spain Gazette," I gave it full consideration, and you may rest assured that, as far as in me lies, I will cordially co-operate in trying to render Chinese immigrants successful. I fully concur with you in thinking that their introduction into this colony is likely to tend more to its stable prosperity than anything that has hitherto occurred.
From the short experience I have had of these people I like them exceedingly, and I have very little hesitation in predicting that in a short time they will be the most efficient labourers we have. They appear to have the strength to do all kinds of work required of them, and at present they exhibit a ready will to try anything they are told to do; they jump at the first call, and the merry noisy way in which they tumble out to their work reminds me of the "scaling" of a school. It is a pity that there is no interpreter to visit the estate occasionally; yet I think they will soon be able to make theniselves unler- stood; not being clogged with the trammels of caste, they mix more freely than the coolies with the creoles, who say of them they are not so "comful" as the coolies. I have tried them at most kind of work, and they gave me every satisfaction. This week I gave them tasks 70 feet square to weed; they all finished, and some of them by noon. I have been expecting to see you here for sorue time. I wished to make application to you for 25 more, either Chinese or coolies, but I would much prefer the former. I have joined Mr. Lambie in the "Buen Intento" estate, and wished them for that property. If you can give me an allotment every care shall be taken of them. They will be solely under my own control, as I intend to manage the estate myself for the wet season.
Henry Mitchell, Esq., Acting Agent General of Immigrants
I am, &c. (Signed) J. TAYLOR.
Should the remaining returns be sent in before the packet sails, their substance will be annexed to this report. The general conduct of the indented coolies gives satisfaction. During the last three months no complaint worthy of notice has been made by either employer or labourer; and of the latter, whose time has expired, and are anxious for a return passage, few leave the estates mentioned in their certificates.
The coolics who arrived this year are also working well, and the amounts due for premium on each lot have been paid up, with the exception of one sent to Harmony Hall, and a gang of Chinamen to Macoya.
SIR,
I have, &c. (Signed) HENRY MITCHELL,
Acting Agent General of Immigrants.
CHINESE REPORTS.
Broomage Estate, April 20, 1853.
In compliance with your request in your note of the 15th instant, I here furnish you with a reply to the queries regarding the Chinese immigrants allotted to this estate.
1st. I received 23 coolies, all in good health but one, who has not yet worked, out is now convalescent. They were all afflicted with a sort of itch during the first month. R
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
C.O.
Reference :-
885
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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