The Sun.
London, England, 1866-07-24 00:00:00

Coolie Slaves.

An interesting paper has been published in the
Alta California, giving an account of the infamous
coolie traffic, which it terms the slave-trade of the
19th century. The statement is made by a Captain
Gustave Gerlott, who lately commanded a ves-
sel engaged in the inhuman traffic. The business is
mainly in the hands of a large company, organised
under the laws of Peru, and known by the corporate
name of " Compania Mariana del Peru." Ilia
Company owns five American-built ships, which,
sail under the Peruvian flag. In consequence °I
the war between Spain and Peru these vessels noW
fly the Portuguese ensign. The trade is carried on
between Macao and Callao. The coolies are ob-
tained at Shanghai and Canton, half the shipments
being made from each depot. These depots are
large hulks moored in the harbours of the ports
named and fitted up as " gambling hells" on the most
extensive scale. The Chinaman's unconquerable
weakness—the love of gambling—is the bait by
which he is caught. People are employed to entice
the most ignorant on board, when money is lent to
them to try their luck, and, when once embarked,
few ever escape. Macao is a Portuguese port on
the coast of China, and the entrapped coolies are
there collected in barracoons, guarded by Porta-
guese soldiers. They are allowed to pass the time
in gambling, or spend the little money they get in
opium till the ship arrives, when they leave for
ever the Celestial Empire. However infamous this
plan of entrapping ignorant peasants, the ruffians
who conduct the traffic are far from confining
their operations to so peaceful a system. All
manner of kidnapping is resorted to. Fishing
junks are boarded, sword and pistol in hod'

the crew seized and the boats sunk. Village
are taken at the point of the bayonet, and the eulj-
vators carried by force into slavery. Scenes too
horrible for belief result from this Peruvian trade.

The coolies rise on their oppressors, who remain
armed to the teeth, with their lives in their
hands. These revolts, if unsuccessful, are sin'
pressed with reckless cruelty and an appalling loss
of life. We remember a few years ago the Gover-
nor of Hongkong seizing a vessel that put into that
port engaged in this traffic. In spite of the precau-
tions taken on board some clue of the ship's pre-
ceedings had been conveyed to the police, and in
consequence a force went on board and received the
depositions of the people they termed passengers.
A tale, which made the Governor's hair stand on
end with horror, was the result. It appeared that
a small vessel, employed on the coast as a tender to
the larger ship, had forcibiy seized on all the stray

inhabitants they could find till they had filled the
hold. The kidnapped coolies, on being carried
out to sea, had, we presume, attempted a rising•
However this may be, the vessel was some time
after picked up, a wreck, and on opening the
hatches the bodies of the coolies were found float':

ing about, and a close examination proved that
had been shot with musketry, and the remainder
had been drowned in the hold with the hatches bat-
tened down, and the vessel scuttled. When the
coolies are embarked at Macao every precaution
is taken to prevent a rising. Half the number are
from Northern ports, and half from Southern, he"
tweea. whom there is little sympathy. A few at 3.
time only are allowed on deck, and indeed all the -
horrors of the " Middle Passage" are reproduced on
this voyage. Sometimes the coolies succeed in
capturing the ship, and then but little quarter la
given by them to their oppressors. Now and then
a tragic tale goes the round of the papers when
some of these dark scenes struggle into light. The
vessel heads for Havannah, Callao, or the Chin"-
chas, and, if successful in landing the larger por-
tion of her Cargo, the run is extremely profit"
able. With each coolie a contract has been entered
into specifying both pay and period of service, but
these contracts are mere waste paper. The coolie
who has toiled for six long years tells his employer
that his time is up, and he is met by the exclama"
tion —" Time up ! you have not been here slg
" months ; go back to your work, or it will be worse
" for you ;" and as thereis no Chinese Consul to whom
to appeal, the coolie goes back to life-long slavery
with a sigh of despair. This traffic should not b°
confounded with the legitimate emigration fro'
China and India. The Australias have legislated
in vain to protect the country from an inroad 01,
Celestials. A profitable passenger traffic is carried
on between Hongkong and these gold-producing
colonies, and the Chinese emigrants pay a
price for the transport. Indeed all the islands to
the south of Asia are being overrun by Chinamen'
and it is probable that the legitimate passenger'
trade in force aids the agents of the Peruvian Cow' .
pany in decoying away their victims.

MARKETS.—This Day.

HAY.

SMITHFIELD.—OId meadow hay, £5 Os to £6 6s ; ne1").
do., £3 10s to £5 ss; old clover, £4 15s o_l7 Ds Od °Z
do., £3 10s to £5 5s ; and straw, £2 Os to £2 lOs per loa"
Trade firm.
CUMBEILLAND.—OId meadow hay, £5 5s to £6 65 °c.l!
new do, £3 lOs to £5 5s ; old clover, £4 15s to £7 Os Oci:.
new do., £3 lOs to £5 15s ; and straw, £2 Os to £2 10$ Per
load. A steady demand.
WMTECHAPEL.—OId meadow hay, £5 58 to 6s Od; ,
new do., £3 lOs to £5 5s ; old clover, £4 15s to £7 Os 0a;
new do., £3 lOs to £5 los ; and straw, £2 Os to £2 108 Per
load. Trade firm.

COLONIAL.
TEA.—The market has been very quiet, operations 011
the part of the Trade having been deferred until to-cllO
when a rather large quantity of China produce will ))t)
offered.

SUGAR.--A good demand has prevailed, and in sonic, ill;
stances enhanced prices are current. In the Refinedgial°4.
the small quantity of goods on offer tends to keep uP Priceo-;
COFFEE._—There has been a very fair demand for suPell-d,
qualities,inotwithstanding the large quantity lately diErse
of by importers, and full rates are readily obtained.
RICE.—A very limited business has been done, and In
few instances at slightly reduced rates.

CHARLES FREDERICK HUTH, Esq., is the gentle-
man recommended by the Court of Directors of the Bat
of England to fill the vacancy in the direction occasioned
by the retirement of the Bight Honourable Stephen Card.
THE NEW QUEEN'S COUNSEL.—The new Queen 0.
Counsel, Mr. Charles Pollock and Sir George Honyol3-n
r
of the Home Circuit, Mr. W. A. Mundell, of the Parlity-
mentary bar and the Home Circuit, and Mr. J. Dickens°llj
of the Chancery bar, will be sworn iu before thol4°r
Chancellor, in his private room, at the House of Lords, s

half-past four to-clay.
Sir Hugh Rose, who had been at first inclined to
take his title from the river Betwa, the scene of a brilliay
operation in his Central India campaign, has determine;
upon consideration, to assume the title of Strathunir
from an ancient seat of his family, the Roses of liilrroinct:
''

near Inverness. f
We have reason to believe that Mr. Morris, •for
for Galway, has been appointed Solicitor-General
Ireland.
THE TEA TRADE, July 23.—The deliveries !I;
London, estimated for the week, were £1,003,5621b, wbv
`shows a decrease of 346,9311 b. as compared With the PI
vious statement.