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EMIGRATION FROM CHINA TO THE WEST INDIES.

provisions, and if they could make remittances to their friends and relations. They expressed a great dislike to go to any country which belonged to the Spanish, as the accounts which they had received from their countrymen who went to Cuba had been very unsatisfactory. They expressed great cagerness to go to California, from which some very large remittances had been sent home, and two or three individuals had returned with considerable sums of money; but the paramount idea was evidently to obtain food wherever it could be got, and that to secure that object they were ready to embark for any country that offered the means of conveyance.

7. The people who go to California pay for their own passage, and hitherto this emigration has been confined to the better class of artisans, and of shop- keepers possessed of some little property. In the districts round Cumsingmoon, I found that all the carpenters had left for this new El Dorado, and the reports they had sent home of the facility of finding gold seemed to have created quite a ferment, and to have given a new impulse to the desire for emigration.

Those who go down to Singapore and Penang being unable to pay for their own passage in the first instance, come under engagement to refund the amount out of the first earnings after their arrival. According to returns published in one of the Singapore papers, the number of Chinese emigrants who arrived there in 1849 was 10,928, and in 1850, 8,201. These people do not all remain in Singapore, but go on to Java, Banca, Borneo, Malacca, Penang, or wherever else they can find employment for their labour; so that the Chinese race is being gradually but surely diffused over the whole Eastern Archipelago.

8. There are at present two vessels preparing to take in emigrants for Sydney: Captain Simpson, of the “General Palmer," informs me that those who were sent there some time ago have given entire satisfaction. Captain Simpson entered into engagements with several private individuals, before he left Sydney, to bring over a certain number of emigrants for each, at the rate of 10. 55. per head, all charges inclusive. The terms he is authorized to offer are three to four dollars wages per month, with food and lodging. The indentures of service to be for five years, and there is no stipulation whatever as to a return passage. He has been directed to take them from Amoy, as all the Chinese emigrants now in Sydney came from that quarter. The total number ordered is about 1,000. Should the accounts which have reached this of the discovery of gold in large quantities in the neighbourhood of Sydney prove correct, there can be little doubt that a very extensive emigration will set in from China to that country.

9. Annexed is the translation of a “Document" which I received a few days ago from a very intelligent person, with whom I had an interview some days previous. He promised to go into the country and to ascertain from the people themselves on what terms they would be disposed to emigrate, and whether they would be willing to take their wives and families. The document in question shows the result of his inquiries. Your Excellency will observe that he starts no difficulty as to procuring women and families. He cannot undertake to say whether the women would engage in weeding canes, or doing other field work required. They are not in the habit of doing such work here, but would, he thinks, probably do so in any other country, if adequately paid. The wages of $2 a month only contemplates domestic employment, the reaping of rice, pre- paring of flax, and other light occupations of a similar nature.

10. I had also an interview with a person in Macao who has been engaged in collecting emigrants for the west coast of South America. His statement to me was, that from 300 to 400 young men a month could be obtained from the

sugar districts, at the average wages of $4. They would require three months wages in advance. With this they would furnish themselves with clothing and neces- saries for the voyage, and would pay the collecting agent. The balance, about $6, they would leave with their relatives and friends as means of support until they could make remittances from the "New Country."

This man thought that single families would not leave the country, and that the only way to obtain them would be to take all the collateral branches. In many of the villages, there are only two or three families or clans, each having a distinctive name, and living under the authority and control of the oldest member. Each of these families, or clans, have an "Ancestral Hall," which is

EMIGRATION FROM CHINA TO THE WEST INDIES.

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considered by them as sacred. It is here that they assemble on great festive occasions to do honour to the names of their ancestors. It is often used as the school for all the children of the family; it is the place of public meeting, to consult on all matters of general interest, and is in every way identified with the welfare and happiness of the clan. Veneration for their ancestors, and respect for the aged, may be considered as the practical religion of the Chinese, and it will therefore be readily understood, how unwilling single families must be to separate from all that they hold sacred,

It appears to me very probable that if the plan thus suggested were carried out in practice, the difficulty of obtaining women and families would be, to a considerable extent, if not entirely removed. The emigrants would carry with them the "Tablets" of their ancestors, and would re-establish their Ancestral Halls in their new locations. But a paramount difficulty still remains; the women being small-footed, would be useless as labourers, and the cost of emi- gration would be greatly enhanced without any corresponding benefit.

Your Excellency will perceive that there is great difference of opinion among the Chinese themselves, as to the probability of obtaining women and families. At first, no doubt, there will be considerable difficulty, but, if the accounts sent home by the men, and the amount of their remittances, be considered satisfactory, I am inclined to think, after comparing all the information I have received on the subject, that by judicious management, the difficulties may be overcome, and the emigration placed on a healthy and advantageous footing,

your

11. With reference to the probable cost of emigration, I have addressed Excellency in a separate communication, containing such further information as I am possessed of. Owing to the continued arrival of American vessels from California, which, from their superior sailing qualities, are preferred for the conveyance of silks and teas, a great number of British vessels are now seeking employment, and might be obtained for emigration purposes at a reasonable rate. The principal difficulty which occurs to me is with regard to a supply of proper butts or casks for water: these could not be obtained in sufficient number to meet any sudden demand, and there is no wood in the country applicable to the construction of water-tight packages.

There would be some difficulty also in procuring surgeons, if the conditions of the Passengers Act were rigidly insisted on. The Chinese are great adepts in medicine and surgery according to their own notions; and 1 am informed that a respectable man might be obtained to act as surgeon for the voyage. It would not be prudent to trust entirely to these men, but one or two of them engaged as assistants to the European surgeon would, probably, be found very useful after their arrival in the colony.

12. Instead of depending entirely upon the chance of obtaining vessels in China, I would suggest that arrangements be made by Her Majesty's Govern- ment, through the Land and Emigration Commissioners, for the supply of a portion of the requisite shipping on a plan similar to what prevails for the Indian emigration the vessels to arrive out here at stated periods, say at intervals of one month, and to give 30 lay days for the embarkation of emigrants. vessels employed in conveying troops, emigrants, and convicts to the Australian Colonies, would probably be glad of the opportunity thus afforded for continuous employment in the emigration service, and would take emigrants to the West Indies on as favourable terms as any that could be obtained here.

The

I have already stated in a former communication that the best season for carrying on emigration is from October to April. The north-east monsoon prevails at that season of the year, and vessels would therefore make quicker pas- sages, and take emigrants on lower terms. But there is no reason why emigra tion should be discontinued during the other portion of the year. The hardy frames of the Chinese would bear, with comparative indifference, a degree of cold that would prove injurious to the slender Bengalee; and an extra suit of clothing would furnish him with every comfort he would require when crossing the stormy latitudes of the Cape of Good Hope.

13. I am still of opinion that before entering upon any large scheme of emigration it would be prudent to ascertain, by experiment on a small scale, whether the Chinese are likely to answer well as agricultural labourers. Although

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C.O. 88

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