CO885(1-2) — Page 360

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE 6

Reference :-

THEC.O.

885

1PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

50

50

CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO

would be competent to enact almost all that could practically be carried into effect.

5. But Dr. Bowring observes that even in China any British law could only be enforced through the British consuls, and that the persons concerned in the emigration could, with the support or connivance of the Chinese authorities (which would be readily obtained), ship their emigrants at places at which no British consular authority existed, and in which, consequently, the ships would escape even the general check on their proceedings which is derived from the presence of such an authority. If this be so, it appears to us to present a very great obstacle to the enforcement of any effective regulations on ships (even though British) proceeding from China to any other foreign country. It is, however, possible that if penalties were imposed on any British ship which took in passengers before receiving a certificate from the consul of the seaworthiness and other necessary matters, or took in a greater number than was allowed by that certificate; and if in the first instance the power thus given was exercised with caution and forbearance, shipowners might not find it worth their while to resort to other places of embarkation, and if they did, the emigration from the great ports might obtain a superior character for safety and accommodation, which would draw emigrants, and consequently the emigrant trade, thither. This, however, appears to be a matter to be considered by the Foreign Office and Board of Trade, who are best able to estimate what can be effected at their foreign ports. In any case it is to be hoped, that as these mutinies are said to have arisen from want of consideration for the Chinese, shipowners will find themselves obliged, by motives of mere self-interest, to consult the feelings of those for whose conveyance they undertake. And we should point out that the assistant consul at Amoy expresses his opinion that the crowding of vessels has not been carried so far as might have been expected in an unregulated trade, and that the amount of provisions put on board has generally been ample.

6. The emigration to British colonies is more susceptible of regulation, as

a check can be applied at the port of disembarkation.

7. That to Australia is conducted as a matter of private speculation, without any aid from Government; but we are not aware that hitherto any abuses have occurred in it. We would recommend that the authorities in New South Wales and Victoria should be directed to watch the emigration, and in case any serious abuses should come to light, or appear probable, to propose to the Legislature an Act imposing penalties on all ships bringing immigrants to those colonies, in which it should appear that a certain portion of space had not been allotted to the emigrants, or a certain issue of provisions made regularly to them throughout the voyage, or that the ship had left China in an unseaworthy state. The details of such a measure it would, of course, be for the local authorities to determine.

Pro-

8. The emigration to the West Indies is as yet in its commencement. bably by this time five or six ships will have left China for Demerara or Trinidad. This emigration, with the exception of a few ships proceeding on bounty to British Guiana, will be entirely conducted by Mr. White, the recently appointed emigration agent. Over this, therefore, the control of Govern ment is complete, and no abuse is to be apprehended. And the proceedings of private ships may be controlled from the circumstance that the bounty on Chinese emigrants is not legally claimable, (Ordinances 20 and 22 of 1851,) unless the ship bringing them to the colony shall have been inspected, and proper certificates given by the Government emigration agent, at the port of departure. It will be seen by reference to the instructions* first issued to Mr. White, that this point has been fully attended to. We are, indeed, ourselves of opinion, that Government emigration being now set on foot, the bounty might very properly be withdrawn. There are evident inconveniences in the concurrent existence of two systems of emigration, one of which is, that a given sum being voted for emigration, it is impossible to predict with certainty how much will be claimed by persons importing immigrants on bounty, and by consequence how much remains available for purely Government emigration.

8(b). But if the bounty be retained, we think the clauses requiring the certificate of the Government emigration agent as a condition of its payment should be more clearly framed. They should, we think, declare that bounty

• Commissioners Report, October 28.

EMIGRATION OF CHINESE COOLIES.

51

should not be payable on Chinese immigrants, except they were shipped at ports at which a Government agent had been appointed, nor without a certifi cate from him, or some person deputed by him, stating the number of emigrants placed on board; that the ship was seaworthy; that a space of 12 superficial, and 72 cubical feet per adult, was allowed to the passengers; that provisions and water equal to 25 weeks supply, on a scale to be fixed by the emigration agent, had been placed on board; nor unless it appeared that the emigrants had been well treated on the voyage, and provisions issued according to the above-mentioned scale

9. The enclosures to Dr. Bowring's Despatch contain merely matters of information, from which, however, it may be useful to select some leading facts bearing on the prospects of the emigration. The statements of the different consular authorities are so much of the same character with each other, and with the reports previously received from Mr. White and others, that they need not be separately stated.

The

10. The Chinese appear to be valuable immigrants, fitted for labour in the West Indies, and ready to leave their country in almost any numbers. From Amoy alone it is said that 6,000, or, with improved facilities, 12,000 emigrants might be procured annually. The Canton people are said by the consul to be strong, intelligent, thrifty, industrious, and of all Chinese the best adapted for labour in the West Indies. Those of Amoy are described as persevering and sufficiently robust, but slow. A large average of industrious and quiet labourers might be procured there, though it is not to be expected (nor indeed desired) that persons better off in the world would emigrate to the West Indies. Shanghae people are good humoured and fairly industrious, but they do not bear to be lurried or kept too close to their work. Without a certain amount of idling and holiday-making they become sulky and impracticable.

11. The wages of an ordinary labourer near Canton appear to be at most two dollars a month, with his rice; and in the neighbourhood of Amoy 3d. or id. a day without any such allowance. A first-class labourer, possessing somewhat of agricultural science, may obtain 6d. They would be ready to emigrate on the terms offered by the West Indies, especially after some of them had gone out and returned with their gains, or with a good account of the country. With this view it is recommended that return passages should be given to a few of the immigrants soon after their arrival in the West Indies. And Mr. White expresses his intention to engage two or three respectable men on short contracts for two or three years to be sent back (free, we presume) at the end of that term. Indentures are recommended, both for the safety of the importer and the satisfaction of the Chinese, by whom they are generally well understood. And the contracts in use for the West Indies (which offer food, lodging, medical attendance, and four dollars a month), are considered liberal and sufficient.

12. It appears to be, at least for the present, impracticable to set on foot any female emigration, except by the simple purchase of women,-a proceeding which, independently of other objections, would, it is said, give great umbrage.

18. The Chinese law† comprises apparently some constructive prohibition of emigration, but it appears wholly obsolete. Emigrants are collected by the publication of placards, and are sent off in thousands from Canton and Amoy. The following table shows the numbers despatched in the last few years from Canton, and those who left Amoy under contract with foreigners :-

-

1848.

1849.

1850.

1951,

1852.

Canton

10

900

3,118

3,508

17,025 (first 6 months.)

Amoy

120

280

1,000

2,066

1,739

(first 8 months.)

P.S. January 11.-And at Ningpo.

P.S. January 11.-The state of the Chinese law is rather more specifically stated by Mr. l'arkes. It appears that it is occasionally so far enforced that the property amassed by emigrants is on their return to China wholly or in part confiscated for emigration without licence. This, however, bears the aspect of mere extortion; and of course this would counteract pro tanto the alleged desire of all Chinese emigrants to return to their country.

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