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"the party that brings them. It is to be naturally presumed that those who may come from an intelligent understanding of the advantages afforded in this country will make valuable citizens, but from the ignorant Cooly element nothing can be expected but the destruction of our present labour system and the impoverishment of the American working classes."
18. Could the plan of introducing unbound Chinese laborers into the Colonies through a similar system of contractors be feasible, I should hesitate to recommend it after an experience of the old system of the Indian Immigration not under contract; though as regards artizans and the higher classes of Chinese laborers, it might be tried on a small scale, the Government advancing the passage money in the first instance looking to reimbursement by monthly instalments from the earnings of the Immigrants.
19. Emigrants under contracts have left Hong Kong from 1855 to the end of 1867 amounted to 18,077, of whom 1,677 were females (See Appendix No. 2). Of these 4,991 went to Havanah before any attempt was made at a regular system of Chinese Emigration to the British West India Colonies, which was not till 1858 when Emigration from Hong Kong to Havanah appears to have been given up.
20. From 1858 to 1862 Demerara and the British West India Colonies had the field to themselves and obtained 6,630 Emigrants, of whom 1,207 were females.
21. After this, Mr. Sampson, the Agent for the West India Colonies, removed the headquarters of the Agency to Canton, and in 1864 withdrew altogether from Hong Kong, leaving the field open to Dutch Guiana, Bombay, Tahiti, Honolulu, Surinam, Borneo, and Labuan, which countries together obtained 6,456 souls, of whom 470 were females. During the present year one ship only has been despatched to Dutch Guiana with 227 Emigrants.
22. These latter Emigrants left for Surinam with a guarantee of a return passage to China after five years. The contract under which they were engaged (See Appendix No. 3) secured to them a bonus of $60 and a piece of land, or a back passage to China after the expiration of the five years' service, but on the eve of their departure, they stipulated for a guarantee of the back passage only, which was acceded to by the Agent and the contract was so altered. Dutch Guiana alone now has an Agent at Hong Kong for procuring Emigrants.
23. In 1859 Mr. Gardiner Austin, now Colonial Secretary at Hong Kong, came out to China for the purpose of establishing a regular system of Emigration. Demerara, and with that view established Depôts at Hong Kong, Swatow, and Amoy, being of opinion that Canton was not the fittest place for an Emigration Agency.
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24. Mr. Austin appears to have taken great pains in informing himself of the country best suited to his operations, and in having circulated through the Hakka and Chinchoo Districts, and the rural districts about Swatow, pamphlets and notices in the Chinese language, describing the advantages offered by the country for which Emigrants were required, length of voyage, wages, climate, &c.; being then, as he is now, of opinion that the best field from which to draw Emigrants would be the country along the coast to a little distance above Amoy, so as to include the Hakka and Chinchoo Districts and the sugar district of Swatow; and he states that he had every reason to believe that the proportion of women in the Hakka country would be large.
25. Mr. Austin's plans I consider to have been well and judiciously conceived, and had circumstances permitted of their being continued for a few years they would, I think, have resulted beneficially for the Colonies, but in consequence of ill health Mr. Austin was obliged to withdraw early from his work.
26. Mr. Sampson, the present Emigration Agent for the British West India Colonies, succeeded Mr. Austin, and, owing to the fluctuations in the demands for Emigrants, and the heavy expenses of keeping up so many sub-agencies, he formed the opinion that Canton was the most eligible place for the headquarters of Emigration inasmuch as it afforded the best and surest field for procuring a large and continuous supply of Emigrants, and of a better class, owing to its extensive population, both agricultural and otherwise, in the city and neighbouring country. Accordingly, he removed his headquarters to Canton looking at first to Hong Kong, Swatow and Amoy, and afterwards to Amoy and Swatow alone for occasional assistance.
CANTON,
27. From Hong Kong I proceeded to Canton and met with every attention from Mr. Sampson, who afforded me all the information in his power in respect of his proceedings since his appointment, and permitted me free access to his correspondence, for which I am greatly indebted.
28. The Agency at Canton is conveniently situated on the Western side of the City and immediately opposite Shameen, the settlement of Foreign residents; it consists of a residence for the Agent with a commodious depôt attached, capable of receiving conveniently from three to four hundred Emigrants.
29. Emigrants are drawn to the depôt by the circulation throughout the city and country by native agency of handbills containing the terms on which Emigrants will be received at the depôt, the nature of the agreement proposed and terms offered, &c.; beside which natives are employed on fixed salaries to procure volunteers. Mr. Sampson, for reasons which he has explained from time to time in his correspondence with Her Majesty's Emigration Commissioners, has always avoided the payment of any head money on the Emigrants collected.
30. I forward a copy of the rules of the China Government under which Emigrants may be collected, and to which it is unnecessary for me to say Mr. Sampson strictly adheres (See Appendix 4).
31. According to the returns furnished by Mr. Sampson, the whole number of Chinese Emigrants sent to the British West India Colonies from 1859 to the...
699
7
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"the party that brings them. It is to be naturally presumed that those who may come from an intelligent understanding of the advantages afforded in "this country will make valuable citizens, but from the ignorant Cooly ele- "ment nothing can be expected but the destruction of our present labour "system and the impoverishment of the American working classes."
18. Could the plan of introducing unbound Chinese laborers into the Colonies through a similar system of contractors be feasible, I should hesitate to recommend it after an experience of the old system of the Indian Immi- gration not under contract; though as regards artizans and the higher classes of Chinese laborers, it might be tried on a small scale, the Government advancing the passage money in the first instance looking to reimbursement by monthly instalments from the earning of the Immigrants.
19. Emigrants under contracts have left Hong Kong from 1855 to the end of 1867 amounted to 18,077, of whom 1677 were females (See Appendix No. 2.) Of these 4,991 went to Havanah before any attempt was made at a regular system of Chinese Emigration to the British West India Colonies, which was not till 1858 when Emigration from Hong Kong to Havanah appears to have been given up.
20. From 1858 to 1862 Demerara and the British West India Colo- nies had the field to themselves and obtained 6,630 Emigrants, of whom 1,207 were females.
21. After this, Mr. Sampson, the Agent for the West India Colonies, removed the head quarters of the Agency to Canton, and in 1864 withdrew altogether from Hong Kong, leaving the field open to Dutch Guiana, Bombay, Tahiti, Honolulu, Surinam, Borneo, and Labuan, which countries together obtained 6,456 souls, of whom 470 were females. During the present year one ship only has been despatched to Dutch Guiana with 227 Emigrants.
22. These latter Emigrants left for Surinam with a guarantee of a return passage to China after five years. The contract under which they were engag ed (See Appendix No. 3) secured to them a bonus of $60 and a piece of land, er a back passage to China after the expiration of the five years' service, but on the eve of their departure, they stipulated for a guarantee of the back passage only, which was acceded to by the Agent and the contract was so altered. Dutch Guiana alone now has an Agent at Hong Kong for procuring Emigrants.
23. In 1859 Mr. Gardiner Austin, now Colonial Secretary at Hong Kong, came
e_out
to China for the purpose of establishing a regular system of Emigration. Demerara, and with that view established Depôts at Hong Kong, Swatow, and Amcy, being of opinion that Canton was not the fittest place for an Emigration Agency.
24. Mr. Austin appears to have taken great pains in informing himself of the country best suited to his operations, and in having circulated through the Hakka and Chinchoo Districts, and the rural districts about Swatow,
•
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pamphlets and notices in the Chinese language, describing the advantages offered by the country for which Emigrants were required, length of voyage, wages, climate, &c.; being then, as he is now, of opinion that the best field from which to draw Emigrants would be the country along the coast to a little distance above Amoy, so as to include the Hakka and Chinchoo Districts and the sugar district of Swatow; and he states that he had every reason to believe that the proportion of women in the Hakka country would be large.
25. Mr. Austin's plans I consider to have been well and judiciously con- ceived, and had circumstances permitted of their being continued for a few years they would, I think, have resulted beneficially for the Colonies, but in conse- quence of ill health Mr. Austin was obliged to withdraw early from his work.
26. Mr. Sampson, the present Emigration Agent for the British West India Colonies, succeeded Mr. Austin, and, owing to the fluctuations in the demands for Emigrants, and the heavy expenses of keeping up so many sub- agencies, he formed the opinion that Canton was the most eligible place for the head-quarters of Emigration inasmuch as it afforded the best and surest field for procuring a large and continuous supply of Emigrants, and of a better class, owing to its extensive population, both agricultural and otherwise, in the city and neighbouring country. Accordingly, he removed his head-quarters to Canton looking at first to Hong Kong, Swatow and Amoy, and afterwards to Amoy and Swatow alone for occasional assistance.
CANTON,
27. From Hong Kong I proceeded to Canton and met with every attention from Mr. Sampson, who afforded me all the information in his power in respect of his proceedings since his appointment, and permitted me free access to his correspondence, for which I am greatly indebted.
28. The Agency at Canton is conveniently situated on the Western side of the City and immediately opposite Shaimeen, the settlement of Foreign residents; it consists of a residence for the Agent with a commodious depôt attached, capable of receiving conveniently from three to four hundred Emi- grants.
20. Emigrants are drawn to the depôt by the circulation throughout the city and country by native agency of handbills containing the terms on which Emigrants will be received at the depôt, the nature of the agreement proposed and terms offered, &c.; beside which natives are employed on fixed salaries to procure volunteers. Mr. Sampson, for reasons which he has explained from time to time in his correspondence with Her Majesty's Emigration Commissioners, has always avoided the payment of any head money on the Emigrants collected. 30. I forward a copy of the rules of the China Government under which Emigrants may be collected, and to which it is unnecessary for me to say Mr. Sampson strictly adheres (See Appendix 4).
31. According to the returns furnished by Mr. Sampson, the whole num- ber of Chinese Emigrants sent to the British West India Colonies from 1859 to the
699
į
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