CO129-078 - Sir Robinson - 1860 [7-12] — Page 6

This traffic, which has reflected so much disgrace on all connected with it, has therefore been carried on under foreign flags, and chiefly from the Chinese Ports of Shanghai, Swatow and Whampoa, and from the Portuguese Settlement of Macao.

Towards the close of last year a scheme of family emigration which up to that time had been considered an impossibility, was successfully inaugurated by the despatch of the "Whirlwind" for Demerara, containing 311 male and 64 female emigrants, under contract for 5 years' service in that Colony. This vessel was shortly afterwards followed by five others, containing 1317 males and 269 females. Making a total of 1628 male, and 333 female contract emigrants shipped from this for Demerara up to the close of the Season in April last. It is, I think, scarcely possible to overrate the importance of the success of this Experiment when viewed in its probable bearing upon the future of the British West Indies.

The Government of the neighbouring Provinces - the two Kwangs - has now legalized emigration and established regulations for the management of it. Family Emigration has been proved to be practicable, and when once the infamous Coolie traffic shall have been suppressed, and the people acquire confidence in the promises made to them by the Agents for British Colonies, which they will soon do as favourable accounts have already been received from the first two.