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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference -

TLC.O. 885

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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EMIGRATION FROM CHINA TO THE WEST INDIES.

industrious and hardworking beyond measure in their own country, where necessity compels them to field labour to procure subsistence, it is possible that they may not prove so hardworking and industrious when placed in other cir- cumstances, and removed from the pressure of want. By habit and character they are essentially a commercial people, fond of traffic and barter, of shop-keep- ing and petty manufactures, and of all kinds of desultory employments. I am led to believe that even in Java, where the number is so large, they do not work in the field, or engage in the actual cultivation of the cane, but are employed principally as superintendents to regulate and direct the cultivation and the manu- facture. They are fond of authority, and being supported in the exercise of it, use little modération towards the natives of the island, by whose manual labour the cultivation is maintained. Many of them are men of substance, and farm the revenues from Government, and they have possession of nearly all the internal traffic of the island.

This statement corresponds in a great measure with my information regarding Manilla. In both of these countries there is, however, a settled labouring population, adequate to the immediate wants of the country, and the Chinese emigrants on their arrival fall naturally into that position in which their services are most required, and which is at the same time most consonant to their habits and character. I can discover no good reason why the Chinese, possessed as they are of strength, intelligence, an extreme desire to make money, and habits of agricultural labour, should not become useful and permanent settlers in the West Indies.

14. I have not yet been able to make up my mind definitively as to the relative advantages of the Amoy, or Canton districts, with a view to establishing a permanent system of emigration. It is probable that a greater number of labourers might be obtained at the former, and at somewhat less cost. Here the labourers appear to me of stronger build, and there is, perhaps, a better prospect of obtaining women and families. Shipping will be obtained with greater facility. Should the Colonial Government decide hereafter to appoint an agent specially charged with the care of emigration, Macao appears to me to offer many advan- tages for the establishment of a depót. The place is in decay, and property is of comparatively little value, so that the necessary premises might be procured at a moderate cost, and the Portuguese Government would afford every reason- able facility to establish and carry out a regulated system of emigration. There is constant intercourse with the main land, by roadf as well as by water, and the inner harbour, or the Typa, afford excellent anchorage for vessels of considerable burthen. Its contiguity to Hong Kong would enable the English Colonial authorities to exercise whatever supervision might be considered necessary to prevent the possibility of abuses. A competent surgeon would be always at hand, to examine emigrants previous to their embarkation. My belief is, that the Chinese, finding themselves well treated at the depôt, and having full confidence that they would be protected and taken care of by the English Government, would flock to the depot in sufficient numbers to supply any amount of emigra- tion that would probably be required for British Guiana and Trinidad. Should it be otherwise, the agent could at any time make arrangements to procure emigrants at Amoy, and by visiting that port occasionally, the emigration from both places might be carried on under his immediate superintendence.

15. The peculiar character of the Chinese will render the management of them, on their first arrival in the West Indies, a matter of some difficulty before they get accustomed to their new locations. To all appearance, they are perfectly impassive,--cold and hard as a rock; yet they are fond of music, such as it is, and of theatrical shows and amusements; and at their sing-song exhibitions, I have seen hundreds, if not thousands of them, convulsed from car to car with roars of laughter. They have inexhaustible fund of obstinacy, and yet they are always willing to do anything that is required of theru, provided it be clearly explained to them, and that they are allowed to do it in their own way. On their first arrival they must be kept cheerful, and managed with kindness, and a consideration for their feelings and habits; yet indulgence will spoil them, for they are extremely cunning, and will profit by the least opening to obtain an advantage. They are large eaters, and must be well fed at first; but if allowed a small plot of ground in lieu of their rice and

EMIGRATION FROM CHINA TO THE WEST INDIES. 23

other "bread stuffs," they will soon cultivate an abundance for their own use. Possessed of strong animal passions, I am afraid they may become sullen and discontented, unless they should form connexions with the Negro women; but if this difficulty can be overcome, they will be found cheerful, contented, and industrious.

It will soon be found necessary to give up the system of monthly wages, and to put them on piece work. With exception of domestic service, all work in China is done by the piece, and as this is the habit of the nation, it will no doubt be found to answer better with the emigrants in the West Indies than any other system. It will give a stimulus to exertion, and will enable the planters to get rid of the system of paying monthly or weekly wages to every individual labourer on the estate, by which the cost of production is now considerably enhanced.

When emigration is once fairly established, and the people perceive the advantages to be gained by emigrating to the West Indies, I think it is more than probable that they would undertake to pay a portion of their own passage money. At present it cannot be expected that they should make any such engage- ment. Like all other emigrations, this will probably have difficulties to encounter in the first instance, many of which do not occur to me at present; but if the Chinese Government do not interfere, and the emigration be fairly and judi ciously conducted, there can be little doubt of obtaining an abundant supply of agricultural labourers.

I have, &c. (Signed) JAMES T. WHITE.

P.S.-Annexed is an extract from the Calcutta newspaper, the "Hurkaru" having reference to the relative value of the Bengalees, Dhangahs, and Chinese, as agricultural labourers. The writer entertains the same opinions nearly as those I have expressed to your Excellency, giving a preference to the Dhangahs over the Bengalees, and to the Chinese over both. As he had seen the three races working together, his opinion is perhaps worthy of attention.

I annex also blank form of contract, under which it is proposed to engage labourers for Sydney ;-referred to in paragraph No. 8.

J. T. WHITE.

A.

1st. It is hereby clearly stated that every labouring man shall receive $4 per month wages, and his food shall be furnished at the expense of the contractor.

2d. While remaining on board ship, after reaching the anchorage, each company of fifty men shall receive $5 per day for food and necessary 9d. The labourers shall not be under sixteen nor over forty years of age. 4th. Each person from ten to fifteen years old shall receive wages & per month.

expenses.

5th. Each woman shall receive wages & 2 per month.

6th. Each child, whether male or female, under ten years of age, shall receive food, but no wages.

7th. For every fifty labourers there shall be a superintendent who understands

a little English, who shall receive wages & 8 per month.

8th. On reaching the anchorage, each labourer shall receive in advance $4. 9th. On the ship being ready to leave, each man shall receive in advance *4 more.

B.

Our recent remarks on the subject of employing Chinese labourers in the plantations of the West Indies, have brought us some notices of an experiment bearing on the question and tried in this country. Our informant having occasion to bring into cultivation some new land overgrown with a thick- spreading broad-leafed grass, every root of which it was necessary to remove;

CA

B.

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