Extract from "China Mail" _
5th March, 1870. )
Loss of the "Frederic "_ Narrative of _ from "Java Bode" "__
the
Inclosure Je, in Governo Sir Richard Graves MacDonnelli Despatch Nr 89457 1 April
1870.
THE CHINA MAIL.
HONGKONG, SATURDAY, MAR. 26, 1870.
THE FREDERIC'S COOLIES. The Batoria Hundelsblad of the 22nd Feby., gives the following additional in- formation regarding the Belgian cooly ship Frédéric, the burning of which in Batavia roads, was noticed in a late issue of the Daily Times..
"We understand that the local,authorities here, after having brought on shore the 365 Chinese from the burning ship Frédério, Capt. Nicaise, have provided for their maintenance in the most economical way possible, by concluding an agreement with the contractor for the supply of provisions to the native prisoners, for the furnishing of the food needed by the Chinese at 18 cents per day per head. Already 20 of the Chinese bave had to be taken to the Chi- nese hospital. The sudden change in their residence and mode of life, as well as the circumstance that most of them have been taken out of the water, will sufficiently point out a cause for sickness.
it is not, however, to be denied, that the situation of their present abiding place is by no means conducive to health in the long run. With an eye to this, the local authorities have sought for a better situation, where a bamboo shed for the lodging of the Chinese will be set up. The care of them at the present moment rests wholly on the police, as the captain, through want of an agency for the owners of the ship, or of the firm in Peru on whose account the coolies were engaged and shipped, is powerless to defray their expenses on shore, say for their rest dence, and subsistence, and medical treat- ment at Batavia; and the Belgian Consul, owing to the presence of the captain, and perhaps influenced also by the circumstance that these natives of the Heavenly King? dom are not Belgian subjects nor never will be, sceras to have no call or authority to concern himself more particularly with the progress or lot of the rescued coolies! We understand the Captain intends to look out for a ship which may be engaged to convey the coolies to the place of their destination. And not until their arrival at Callao, can the Netherlands India Government look for payment for the ex- penses and trouble they have been at in their behalf, from the Peruvian firm, on whose account the coolies were shipped. If the cap- tain should not succed in obtaining a ves- sel, then the lodging and the maintenance of the Chinese will remain as a burden on the State cash chest ; a measure which appears to us abovo all, necessary, when the Government, in the peculiar and by no means insignificant stand point which the Chinese occupy in Netherlands India So- ciety, has a difficulty in favoring Chineso Consuls in Netherlands India, or to excite the wish for it amongst others. Of later consideration is the question, what will have to be done with the Chinese, if the captain does not succeed in finding another vessel for his cargo of coolies
We suppose that in such case opportunity will exist for making use of their services for working the mines on Banka and Billiton, unless the Netherlands India Railway Com- pany feel a desire for experimenting as to how far, with their co-operation, the making of the railroad between Batavia and Buitenzorg, 28 formerly that of the railway between Samarang and the interior, can be expedited; but it is certain that if they are permitted to settle in Netherlands India--and in our opinion there exists much more reason to further this than the contrary-most of them will very speedily find the means of providing for their own subsistence by industrious labour, and it may appear afterwards, that with them, a germ as it were for Nether- landa India millionaires, has been brought It remains, nevertheless, needful that some regulations be framed by the Govern ment, which will make it easy for the heads of the district goveruments to know how to act in cases such as the foregoing. They must at present work in the dark as it were, and by the complete uncertainty which exists respecting this their responsibility, runs as much danger by sitting still as acting vigorously,"
OIL,
h5430/40
82
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.