PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
C.O.8
Reference :-
• 885
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
14
EMIGRATION FROM CHINA TO THE WEST INDIES.'
3. One headman over 50 labourers, wages to be 26; to be a married man,
and to receive the same bonus in advance.
4. To pay two months advance to each labourer, recoverable from his wages. PROPOSITION On the part of Hawa, Bourtong from Teo-Cheo, the easternmost
part of Kwang-Tring province.
1. To pay each labourer 86 per month.
2. Over 10, a headman to receive $10 per month.
3. Over 100, a headman to receive $100 per mouth.
4. As to going out married, with a wife, it is almost an impossibility, and hence an advance of $100 must be made to each of the headmen, to enter the matrimonial state purposely, and the sum be subsequently deducted from their wages.
5. Married couples to receive $9 per month.
6. The headmen to be careful in enforcing habits of diligence, and to fine
those that indulge in idle habits.
7. Every one to have the utmost facility to make remittances of their monthly
wages to their relatives.
8. To receive on embarkation three months wages in advance, to be deducted
after their arrival.
9. The above propositions subject to the modifications of the individuals who
engage the cultivators.
10. Only strong and hale men, who do not indulge in the habit of smoking opium, from Fokien, Teo-Cheo, and Hai Hong, to be engaged in this work.
3. The general result of the interview was, that they would take 84 to $5 a month (exclusive of food and lodging) or $6 to $7 (without), according to their relative strength. In the last case they would require a small piece of ground for their own use.
4. That one headman in 25 would be sufficient, who should receive $7 a month with food and lodging, if single, or $10 if married.
5. That the headman over 50, if married and speaking the English language, should have 20, it being understood that he should also be a physician. The deputation from Teo-Cheo said, that nobody could be got there who understood the English, and they seemed quite satisfied with 10 per month for their headman.
6. They all adhered steadily to the advance required, which they looked upon as a "sine qua non" to pay their old parents and relatives, who "could receive nothing for some time after they left." A portion of it was intended also to supply themselves with clothing and other necessaries for the voyage, and for their use after their first arrival.
7. They did not ask a single question about the colony, or the nature of the work, or the climate, or the people. Their observations were confined solely to the cost of living, and to the price of rice. They did not make a single remark leading to the inference that they had the least idea of returning to their own country.
8. I asked them if they intended to take large or small footed women. They replied, that they would take some of the former if required, but that the latter were more respectable, and would make the emigration better liked by the people.
9. On asking why women did not emigrate from China to Singapore, and other places where the men went, the only reason they gave was that the sea- sickness would kill them, and that their friends always sent home money to enable them to live in China.
The Chinese are great negotiators, and I believe the only way to deal with them is to lay down certain terms and to adhere to them, and when they find that there is no disposition to make any change, they will probably come into them after a little diplomatic reserve.
EMIGRATION FROM CHINA TO THE WEST INDIES. 15
10. I have also seen a gentleman from Manilla, who has resided many years in the island, and is well acquainted with the condition and circumstances of the Chinese.
He informs me that the number is from 7,000 to 8,000, of whom 4,000 to 5,000 live in the town and the rest in the country. Of the latter, some are holders of land, on which they cultivate sugar upon a small scale; others, and by far the greater number, are employed in the sugar factories, where they intelligent and attentive, and give great satisfaction; others again are shopkeepers are found to be and pedlars; and very few, if any, are engaged as daily labourers on the soil. Nearly all these peple came to the island originally as Coolies, under engagement to work as labourers, but after a short time forsook the field for other pursuits. He describes them as being very hardworking and industrious for the first six or eight months, during which they hoard up every farthing of their earnings, but that as soon as they have realized a few dollars, they start off from field work and set up as hawkers and travelling agents for the richer shopkeepers in town, or engage in some one of the various trades and occupations to which the Chinese are especially addicted, business of any kind being preferred to field industry. The character given of them by this gentleman corresponds so precisely with that of the Portuguese settled in Demarara, that, with change of name, the description of the one would stand perfectly well for the other.
11. He informed me also that the Spanish Government, with a view to encourage their settlement as labourers in the country districts, had taken off the poll-tax hitherto levied on them, and had imposed a proportionate higher tax on the shopkeepers and others; but that he thought this would be ineffectual, the habits of the Chinese being essentially commercial.
12. The above statement, carefully considered, shows the necessity of extreme caution in any steps that may be taken with regard to Chinese emigration; and how easily one may be led astray if the judgment be formed only upon what may be seen in China, where the people are hardworking and industrious (particularly in the field), owing perhaps to the pressure of extreme population. These people may change their habits, and forsake field work, when placed in circum- stances more favourable to the development of their natural character.
18. This gentleman also stated that the Spanish planters considered the Chinese unable to bear the continuous heat of the climate so well as the native Indians.
I have, &c. (Signed) JAMES T. WHITE.
P.S.-I have omitted to mention that the Chinese deputies stated, "that any "number of boys could be obtained of the age of 10 or 11 at about $2 per "month. Some girls of the same age might be got, but only by making "advances to their parents and relatives." Boys of 12 years of age would readily become acclimatised, and would adapt themselves to the customs and requirements of the country; they would be easily managed, and in time would probably become useful and valuable labourers. It may be worth consideration whether an emigration of this kind, properly conducted, and with an admixture of girls, might not prove, ultimately, more conducive than any other to the permanent interests of the colony.
Enclosure 1 in No. 3.
MEMORANDUM of an AGREEMENT made this
A.D. 185
I
JAMES T. WHITE.
day of
in consideration of a free passage to the Hawaiian
dollars per
or Sandwich Islands, and for the further consideration of month to be paid to me, my heirs, executors, administrators, or assigns, and also for the further consideration of a suitable dwelling, food, and medical attendance
- in all cases, except where the sickness is contracted by my own imprudence, to
be furnished to me by
of Honolulu in the Sandwich Islands, his heirs, executors, administrators, or assigns, do hereby promise and the said
agrec with his heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns, that