CO129-105 - Acting Governor Mercer - 1865 [5-7] — Page 261

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I

Articles of Agreement,

made this

day of

Christian Era

, being the

day of the

month

in the

2

of the

of the year

258

year

of the reign of Tungchi, according to the Chinese Imperial Calendar, Between

native of China, of the one part, and WILLIAM STEWART, Esq., of Tahiti, Special Agent of the Tahiti Cotton & Coffee

in consideration of the

Plantation Company, Limited, of the other part, as follows:-The said

covenants, agreements, and stipulations hereinafter entered into by the said W. STEWART, doth hereby promise and agree to and with the said W. STEWART, his executors, administrators, and assigns, in manner and form following,

that is to say:-

1.-That he, the said

said W. STEWART or his agent, embark on board the

at anchor in

shall and will so soon as he shall be required by the

ship

+

now lying

and bound for the Island of Tahiti, and remain on board the said ship

henceforward until she proceeds to sea, and shall than proceed as a passenger on board the said ship, to the Island

of Tahiti, for the purpose of carrying out the stipulations hereinafter contained on the part of the said

-That the said

shall and will from time to time, and at all times during the

term of five years, without claim to a return passage, or seven years with claim to a return passage to be computed, from the day of the date of the arrival of the said ship

, at the

said Island of Tahiti, well, faithfully, and diligently, and according to the best of his skill and ability, work and serve as W. STEWART, his executors, administrators and assigns may direct, in the said Island of Tahiti, according to the provisions hereinafter contained.

That the said

shall and will work as W. STEWART, his excentors,

administrators and assigns may direct for the space of eight hours of each day during the aforesaid term of five or seven years on such estate as may be pointed out by the said W. STEWART, of Tahiti, with a reservation of not less than five days to be set apart during each year as holidays at the China New Year by the said W. STEWART, and of every Sabbath day. And in consideration of the agreement herein contained on the part of the said

the said W. STEWART, hereby promises and agrees to and with the said

manner following, that is to say:--

4. That the said W. STEWART shall provide the said

>

in

with a free passage to the said

Island of Tahiti, and shall supply him gratuitously with such food and clothing as may be necessary for the voyage.

5.-That so long as the said

shall continue and be employed as such laborer

as aforesaid, and perform the agreements on his part hereinbefore contained, he the said W, STEWART shall well and truly pay or cause to be paid to the said

, wages at the rate of four dollars

per calendar month, and shall provide or cause to be provided for the said during the same service, food, House, garden-ground and medical attendance, all free of expense to the said

and two suits of clothing, i e-for men two shirts, two trowsers and one straw hat per annum,

and for women two shirts, two dresses, and four handkerchiefs per annum.

That the said W. STEWART or his agents shall on demand of the said

so soon as he shall embark on board the said ship

out the terms of this agreement, make an advance on account of wages to the said

the extent of

3

for the purpose of carrying

to

dollars, shall pay or cause to be paid monthly to the said

in the said Island of Tahiti, the first

the

wages

to be earned by the said

...