CO885-(1-2) — Page 405

1

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

PLLC.O.885

1 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

140

CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO

young, strong, and active men, who have barely the necessaries of life, and are often driven to piracy for their subsistence. These men will all of them gladly emigrate, and while the emigration is confined to these men, no abuses will take place; but if it be pushed beyond the point when this surplus labour is disposed of, then abuses commence, crimps are brought into play, and men and boys are inveigled from their home under false pretences.

There is at every station a turning point of labour, within which emigration would be safe and beneficial, and beyond which it would be unsafe and lead to practices by the native crimps, little, if at all, short of the traffic in slaves. It was tending towards this point when the disturbanoes broke out at Amoy. There is little internal communication, and therefore the neighbourhood of any particular district will probably become soon exhausted if any sudden and unusual demand were made upon the labouring population. The area for emigration must be increased in proportion to the demand.

7. The abundance or scarcity of provisions will at all times greatly influence the amount of emigration, and the facility of obtaining good agricultural labourers.

8. No emigration to the West Indies will be satisfactory, however well conducted, until some Chinese return to tell their own tale. The Chinese will not seek for this emigration until some of their own race return;-and a few well-satisfied returned emigrants are the best advertisement the colonies can have. To make this emigration safe and satisfactory, confidence must be established; and I see no way so likely to promote this object, as to encourage the return of a few Chinese, who have done well, and are satisfied with their position in the colony. These men will soon engage in trade and ship ventures to the West Indies, as is now done to California; and this point, once gained, emigration will flow in a natural stream, and he regulated by the wants of the

colonies.

9. I enclose three returns relating to emigration from the Fohkien province to Cuba, Sydney, and elsewhere. No. 1. is a statement of the number despatched to Cuba from 1847 to date. No. 2. is a statement of the emigration to Sydney. No. 3. to Honolulu

and Peru.

I have been trying to procure a similar return from Cumsingmoon and Macao, but without success. Being looked upon as a Government agent, they are chary of giving me information.

EMIGRATION OF CHINESE COOLIES.

141

The British Colonial Government in the West Indies are anxious that the emigration now set on foot from China should be successfully carried out, and with the view to pro- mote this object and to insure attention to the emigrants on the voyage, have authorized the payment of certain gratuities to yourself and officers upon your arrival in the West Indies.

The conditions upon which the gratuities will be paid to yourself and officers are:-

1. That the terms of the charter-party, so far as you are concerned, and also the instructions with which you have been furnished, have been fully and fairly complied with.

2. That the emigrants have landed in good health and condition, and have no

well-founded cause of complaint.

3. That no unusual mortality has taken place on board.

The payment to your officers will depend upon your reports of their conduct. Your own gratuity will be at the rate of 20% sterling for every 100 emigrants. For the first officer, at the rate of 8. sterling.

For the second officer, at the rate of 47. sterling; a separate arrangement is made for the surgeon, as stated in his instructions.

(No. 1.)

EMIGRATION of CONTRACT LABOURERS to Cuba, from 1847 to date.

Date.

Colours,

Ship's Name.

Where from.

Number. Mortality.

Remarks,

1847, January Spanish Oquendo

March English | Duke of Argyll

... | │11 IN 85

Amoy

220

420

38

10 washed overboard

11

in a gale.

1852, August

11

British Sovereign

313

..

++

Sept.

L'annma

3-19

12

22

11

October

Gertrude

350

11

Blenheim

453

1

37

"

Nov.

Inchinnan

Namoa 355

Dec.

Lady Amherst

Amoy 275

JI

Sir T. Gresham

Namus

347

15

1853, January Spanish

I

17

11

Feb.

11

Julian d'Unzeuta - English Columbus Spanish Bella Gallega

San Andres

350

"

Amoy

300

Namoa

390

383

11

33

10. Sir G. Bonham started so suddenly and unexpectedly for Shanghai, that I had not the opportunity I sought for to consult with him on some points I wished to submit for his decision. If anything should be required during my absence, there is no person more competent than Mr. Hillier, the chief magistrate; but practical carrying out of emigration would, I believe, be incompatible with his present duties. I have derived a good deal of assistance from Mr. W. Scott, an old resident here, and well known to the Chinese know of no one better qualified than he is to take charge of a limited emigration, if his appointment were acceptable to Sir G. Bonham.

11. If the Government think that my services can be of use for the emigration of future seasons, I shall be prepared to place myself at their disposal. Meanwhile, as nothing can be done, or ought to be done, before September, nothing is lost by my leaving China during the intervening period. I shall wait upon the Commissioners as soon as I arrive in London.

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

S. Walcott, Esq. P.S.-More extended inquiry leads me to think that women may be induced to emigrate from the villages in the neighbourhood of Hong Kong. Many of the intending emigrants who applied at the office to be registered stated that they would send for their wives and children after they had been a short time in the colony, provided their passages were paid. I have ascertained also that there is a female foundling institution at Maeno, under charge of some Catholic missionaries, from which a number of young girls might readily be obtained, and that the Catholic missionaries would give their assistance to promote my views.

SIR,

(Signed) J. T. W.

Proposed LETTER to accompany Instructions.

To Captain

Commanding

I HAVE already furnished you with general instructions as to the management of the Chinese emigrants, entrusted to your care for conveyance to the British colony of

These instructions might have been extended to a much greater length, but would perhaps fetter your judgment, if the details should be be too rigidly adhered to, without sufficient regard to peculiar circumstances as they arise.

The health, comfort, and welfare of the emigrants during the voyage depend almost entirely upon you. I trust therefore that you will on every occasion use firmness, tem- pered with judgment and discretion, in their management (having always reference to the peculiar character and habits of the Chinese), and that you will treat them with kindness and consideration.

(No. 2.)

EMIGRATION of Contract LabourERS to Sydney, from 1848 to date.

Date

Colours.

Ship's Name.

Where

Number. Mortality.

Remarks

from.

1848, July 1849 1850, March

Nov.

English Nimrod

Amoy 120 None

Cadet

150

13

>>

Gazelle

134

3

13

Duke of Roxburgh

272

16

1

1851, August

Sept.

October

240

**

"

29

Ganges

224

13

Arabia

196

10

General Palmer

335

TO

13

21

Nearly all from dy-

sentery, in Bully

13

Nov. Dee.

Statesman

180

None

Amazon

303

13

*

"

Eleanor Lancaster Spartan

Eleanor Lancaster

Namoa

260

Royal Saxon

Amoy

227

J

Spartan

254

1852, January

Nov.

1933, January

S 3

240

10

250

10

11!

Straits.

3 jumped overboard

because they had

no upium.

Nearly all from dy- sentery, in Sunda

Straits.

142

CORRESPONDENCE, &c.

(No. 3.)

ExIORATION of CONTRACT LABOURERS to Honolulu, Peru, and British Guiana.

Colours.

Ship' Name.

Where from.

Number. Mortality.

Remarks.

Honolulu.

Amoy

1861, Nov.- 1852 ""

English Thetis

:1

D

1852, July

Peruvian Empresa

1853, March- | English | Nepaul

To Peru.

1.

199

1 101 None.

Amoy 404

Namos

7

All from cholera

70

Nearly all from

dysentery.

500

To British Guiana,

1862, July

English| Lord Elgin

Amoy 155

Sept.

Glentanner

803

Nov.

M

#

Dec.

Samuel Boddington Australia

852

10

Namos

445

·

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