138
CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO
The proclamation of the Governor of Demerara, bearing date 25th September 1852, states specifically that vessels leaving China subsequent to the 31st March will not be entitled to a higher bounty than 80 dollars for every adult field labourer landed in the colony, and therefore Meara Hyde, Hodge, and Co. cannot claim on account of the
Emigrant" a higher bounty than the sun named in the proclamation
44
But as the charter was concluded previous to the 31st March, and as the emigrants may be considered ready to go on board, and are only waiting for the opportunity, and as it was impossible to procure vessels at an earlier period, owing to the want of shipping, I am willing to take upon myself the responsibility of assuring you that the full amount of bounty, say 100 dollars, will be paid upon the labourers per "Emigrant," provided the Governor of the Colony is satisfied that the spirit of the English Passengers Act has been airly acted upon, and that the emigrants have been fairly and justly treatel.
Messrs. Turner and Co.
I remain, &c. (Signed) J. T. WHITE I understand that the "Emigrant" will leave not later than the 20th.
(No. 10.)
MEMORANDUM of AGREEMENT between Ho A. Sing, native of Canton in China, now residing in Hong Kong, and James T. White, Agent for the emigration of Chinese to the British West Indies.
The said Ho A. Sing having a knowledge of the Chinese language as spoken in the Kuangtung provinces, and of Chinese writing, and also a knowledge of the English language and writing, engages to proceed to British Guiana and to act as interpreter between the Chinese emigrating to the West Indies and all persons in authority over them. He agrees that on arrival in the West Indies he will place himself under the orders of the immigration agent, and will perform all such duties of interpreter as may be required of him by the said agent, or by such other person as may be duly authorized by the Governor.
He further agrees to serve as interpreter for a period of three years, dating from his arrival in the colony, and that during the continuance of said service he will at all times truly and faithfully interpret and explain the wants, wishes, and testimony of the Chinese emigrants, and also interpret and inske known to them the wishes, orders, and instructions of their employers, or of the magistrates and persons in authority, and that he will do so either verbally or in writing, in Chinese or in English, as circumstances may require.
In consideration of the above engagement, and of the due, faithful, and ready perform- ance of his duties, the said James T. White agrees to provide the said Ho A. Sing with a cabin passage to his destination, and to pay him as half wages for the performance of the duties of interpreter on board of ship at the rate of 20 dollars per mouth from the day of embarkation to the day of arrival. And further to pay him 40 dollars per month from the date of his arrival in Demerara, and the sum of 10 dollars per month additional (making 50 dollars per month) subsequent to the expiry of the first year, provided he shall conduct himself and perform his duties to the satisfaction of the Governor of the colony.
Finally, the said J. T. W. engages to provide the said Ho A. Sing with a free passage back to China, if he should wish to leave British Guiana at the expiry of this agreement.
Signed this 5th day of April 1853.
In the presence of
(Signed)
W. SCOTT.
A. G. ROMANO.
(Signed)
JAMES T. WHITE, E, A. Ho A. SING.
Hong Kong, April 5, 1853.
The undersigned Ho A. Sing acknowledges to have received one hundred and twenty dollars ($120), being three months advance on the term of this contract.
(No. 11.)
(Signed)
Ho A. SING.
TERMS of AGREEMENT between Ong Soon Seng, a Chinese native of Penang, and Forbes Scott Browne, Esquire, Merchant of Penang, on behalf of James T. White, Esquire. Government Agent for the Emigration of Chinese Coolies to Trinidad and Deme rara in the West Indies.
I, Ong Soon Seng, Chinese native of Penang, do hereby engage to act truly and faithfully as an interpreter between Chinese coolies, enigrating from the Fokien district of China to Trinidad or Demerara in the West Indies, and such persons as may be in authority over them.
I further agree to proceed from Penang to China, and there place myself under the orders of James T. White, Esquire, for the purpose of proceeding to the West Indies as Chinese interpreter in such vessel as the said James T. White. Esquire, may appoint.
I further agree that, on my arrival in the West Indies, I will proceed to such place, and perform such duties of Chinese interpreter, as may he imposed on me by the said
EMIGRATION OF CHINESE COOLIES.
139
James T. White, Esquire, or by such person as may be duly authorized to impose the
Hame.
I further agree that I will continue to serve the said James T. White, Esquire, or such persons as may be legally empowered to direct me, as such Chinese interpreter for a period of five years, that is, till the 1st March 1858; and that during all the period of such service, that I will at all times truly and faithfully make known to my employers the wants and wishes of the Chinese cooly emigrants to the West Indies, and that I will, with the same truth and fidelity, make known to the said Chinese coolies the desires and instructions of my and their employers.
(Signed) ONG SOON SENG.
Signed in our presence this 2d day of March 1853.
ROB MINTER, jun.
(Signed)
A. M. D'OLIVEIRO.
I, Forbes Scott Brown, merchant, of Penang, acting for and on behalf of James T. White, Esquire, Government Agent for the emigration of Chinese Coolies to Trinidad and Demerara in the West Indies, do hereby engage to pay to Ong Soon Seng, Chinese native of Penang, the sum of 16 dollars per month as monthly wages from the 1st of March 1853, during the period that he may be employed by the said James T. White, Esquire, or by persons legally empowered to employ him as interpreter between Chinese coolies in Trinidad or Demerara and their masters or employers, and to give him free lodgings and ordinary rations, rice and salt fish, or rice and salt meat.
I do further agree to pay at Penang to the order of the said Ong Soon Seng during the period above mentioned, a portion of his monthly wages not exceeding one half thereof.
I do further agree to give the said Ong Soon Seng a deck passage to China per steamer, and that during his voyage from China to the West Indies he, the said Ong Soon Seng, while acting as interpreter, shall be kept separate from the coolie emigrants, and shall have a separate and distinct place in the ship for his accommolation.
And lastly, I do further agree to provide the said Ong Soon Seng with a free passage back, either to Penang, Singapore, or China, should he wish to leave the West Indies at the expiration of this agreement.
Signed in our presence this 2d day of March 1853.
(Signed)
Ron MINTER, jun.
A. M. D'OLIVEIRO.
(Signed) F. S. BROWN.
Received from Mr. F. S. Brown, as agent of James T. White, forty-eight dollars ($48), being three months wages in advance from 1st March, as per within agreement.
Penang, March 2, 1853.
SIR,
(No. 11.)
(Signed) UNG SOON SENG.
Enclosure 2 in No. 45.
Steamer "Erin," April 16, 1853. Is the hurry of addressing you previous to my leaving Hong Kong, I omitted two or three points to which I wish to advert.
As a
1. If emigration is to be carried on next season, early arrangements are indispensable, so as to allow the vessels to leave during the strength of the north-east moonsoon. general rule they ought not to start before the 1st of September, nor later than the 31st of March.
2. I recommend that for the present, and until the emigration is brought into system, the agent be authorized to lay in the stores and provisions for the voyage. All the articles may be obtained at very reasonable and steady rates, except beef and pork; these fluctuate greatly in price, owing to the irregular demand.
3. It would probably facilitate the chartering of vessels here if the agent were authorized to advance a small sum on account of the freight, say to the extent of 21. per head for each emigrant the ship could carry. This appears to have great weight with many captains who come to this port, as it would obviate the necessity of their drawing upon the owners, or placing their vessels in the hands of a ship agent. The advance ought not to be more than sufficient to cover the disbursements in port.
4. Independent of the disinclination of captains of vessels to engage in this service, in consequence of the accidents and disasters that had occurred, I found many unwilling to undertake it because they could not obtain insurance on the freight. I am not aware that this can in any way be obviated, but it tends to increase the rate at which emigrants would otherwise be conveyed.
5. Looking to these and other points, it has occurred to me that it might perhaps be advisable to hold out some gratuity to the captains, if the vessels and emigrants reached their destination in good order and condition. With this view I have drafted a letter, which I enclose for the information of the Commissioners, but I should not feel authorized to act on it without their sanction.
6. There is no doubt in my mind that almost every point on the south coast of China would afford a supply of able-bodied labourers. There is a large floating pupulation of
$ 2
Encl. 2 in No. 45.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 885
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO