CO885(1-2) — Page 288

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

TITLC.O. 885

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

1PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

1.79.

p. -3.

p. 83.

P.30-3. 10.

Case of Puckers,

↑ 92.

which caused a delay of several months in redressing them. But I do not find that any grievance has come to the knowledge of the Governor, or of the Stipen- diary Magistrates, without being promptly followed by careful inquiry, and by the most effectual measures of redress and prevention which the case admitted. The manager and the doctor of Bellevue estate have both been dismissed, the sick Inve been put in a way to be cured, and the Commissioners of Inquiry, appointed at the request of the Court of Policy, have made an investigation and a report which will no doubt put the attorneys and managers upon their guard. I think, however, that the reports concerning the condition of the Coolies might have been more frequent. By Major Light's despatch of the 1st November, page 10, it appears that the returns received up to that date reported only five deaths among the whole number of Coolies. But upon looking further I observe that the latest return for Vreeden Hoop was dated as far back as the 31st July; for Vredenstein and Bellevue as far back as the 18th August; for Anna Regina as far back as the 25th of September; the return for Waterloo was dated the 1st of October; and that for Highbury was not received till a day or two after, having been delayed in consequence of the illness of the Stipendiary Magistrate in charge of the latter district, and was dated 31st October. These are the dates of the several returns transmitted in Major Light's despatch of the 19th November, and extending from p. 11 to p. 73 of the printed papers. The fact no doubt is that they had all been called for, in the expectation that they would be received and forwarded in August or early in September; but that Major Light was obliged to detain them until they were complete. It is a pity, however, (as things have turned out) that from those estates, à second and a third return had not been received by the 19th of November. I cannot ascertain what difference it would have made in the number of deaths reported; but the sudden increase of sickness which seems to have taken place at that time would have been sooner made known to the Government.

I think Major Light should be directed to call for a general return of the mumber of deaths, and the general state of health of all the emigrant labourers once a 'month, and to forward it regularly to Lord Normanby.

V.

Compared with their sufferings from sickness, the other injuries of which the Coolies have to complain are trifling. And in this also the authorities cannot be blamed. The complaints being mole known, the redress followed without delay; and there can be little doubt that in this case the punishment will prove suflicient to prevent a repetition of the offence; or at least to prevent the aggrieved party from remaining silent.

It appears that Mr. Scoble learned, some time last April, that certain Coolies on Vreeden Hoop estate had, some months before, been forged by the interpreter (Jacobs) without any authority. He acquaintal Governor Light with the fact. A Commission was immediately appointed to inquire into the matter, and the story was found to be true. Five Coolies had been both flogged and placed in confine- ment between the 1st and 3d of September, 1838; their offence was having run away. The Commission was appointed on the 24th of April; the investigation took place on the 29th; on the 2d of May one of the Stipendiary Magistrates was directed to take the depositions with a view to prosecution; the matter was thoroughly investigates, and the requisite evidence collected and transmitted to the Inferior Criminal Court by the 16th, and on the 21st, Jacobs was sentenced to one month's iniprisonment and to pay a fine of £20 sterling,

On the 30th of April Mr. Scoble happened to be present on the same estate when a scuffle took place between one of the Coolies and this same interpreter. He took him to the Stipendiary Magistrate to complain; the case was referred to the luferior Criminal Court; and où the 15th of May, Jacobs was found guilty of an assault am fined 30s.

On the same day (30th April) another Coolie, on the same estate, was flogged by the forenian (Kyrautalie), aeting under Jacobs's orders. His case was also referred to the Tuferior Criminal Court, and on the Uth of May, Kyrantalie was The punishment sentenced to a week's imprisoane at, sul to pay a fine of De

was remitted by the Goverïor, as it appeared that he had acted under orders and Case of Ghoness, in ignorance of the law.

P. 91.

During the investigation at Bellevue on the 11th of March, it was stated by the schoolmaster that he had seen the interpreter and sinlars strike the Coolies with a whip. No case occurring previous to that date appears to have been substantiated. But two enses of the same kind occurred not long after. On the 9th of May, Scharbib, the interpreter, was convicted of having flogged a Coolie named Cato on Case of Cato. the 12th of April, and another named Bisram on the 14th. He was sentenced to Case of Bisram. pay a fine of 50s., and to be imprisoned for 10 days. The punishment was remitted

by the Governor after a personal interview, in which he was convinced that he had acted under a wrong apprehension of his power.

The manager (Russel) appears to have been aware that these punishments were occasionally inflicted; and though he was never guilty of them himself, he does not seem to have put a stop to them, which of course he might have done. For this and other faults he has been dismissed.

These, I think, are all the cases of ill-treatment suffered by the Coolies which have been made out. It ought to be added that, though clearly illegal, the pu- nishments were in no respects cruel; indeed they were no more than the Coolies had been used in their own country to submit to from the superintendents. In this respect it cannot be even plausibly maintained that they have been left without protection, or that they are worse off than they were.

VI

p. 48-9.

Certain Maltese were imported into Essequibo in February. A contract had - been made with them in Malta for a five years' term of apprenticeship, which was void under the Order in Council of 30th of July, 15538, as nut having been entered into within the limits of the colony; and which, under the Order in Council of the Sth of September, could not be renewed. A fresh contract was, however, entered into conformably with the latter Order, and they were established on plantation Hibernia. Cottages had been built for their reception; whieh, though the Commissioners of Inquiry describe them as indifferent, and ladly situated," are not considered un- suitable by Captain Ball, the Stipendiary Magistrate, and with which they were themselves perfectly satisfied when they first came. They afterwards became dis- contented with them ("for no better reason, that Captain Ball could ever learn, than an apprehension that they might be robbed by the Negroes, hear whose resi- dences the row of cottages was erected"), and preferred crowding together in a p. 20` building formerly used as a hospital, which neither the Manager nor Captain Ball could persuade them to leave.

On the 19th of May the Commissioners found 80 of them living in the old los- pital, and only 15 in the cottages: they were discontented, expressed disappoint- ment with their situation, and prayed to be released from their indentures. And though there does not seem to have been much sickness at the time, it was evident Jo the Commissioners that there soon would be, unless they were immediately *supplied with good and suitable dwellings." On the receipt of the Commis siopers Report (varly in June), Captain Ball was directed to investigate and Tress their grievances. He arrived on the 10th, and found Dr. Caruana, the nie- dical attendant (himself a Maltese), complaining that the number of sick was con- siderable and increasing, that the hospital was not ready for their reception, and that the medicines and other necessaries, which he had long since applied for, had not been provided. Dr. Caruana was formally heard as complainant on their behalf, and the employer was fined 100 dollars; and further measures were threat- ened in case the grievances were not immediately redressed. Three days after, when it appeared that nothing had been done, the employer was again fined the amount being secured by a distress on the property), and the indentures cancelled of all who wished to be released, and whose health permitted it. The number of These people was originally. 102, more than half of them being women and childern Teu had died; 13 were in the hospital (which had at last fiven propraly | rovided ane fitted up). 15 had had their indutaja can

...yed th***

wood in this