The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-11-19


which they export thence is enormous. Nearly an
equal number is spread through AMMAN, Siam, and
the Strait settlements, where they are the prln-
olpal cultivators traders, miners and artizans'
The Gambler plantations Of Singapore employ
nent on which is attended with danger on account
Of exposure to tigers, are chiefly in the hands or
Chinese. In Java there ale large indigo ana coffee
planters, and the extensive sugar and tobacco GULL
walton of this island was at time wholly in their
hands. Elsewhere, as in their own iand tney are
growers of cotton, and their decacy Of touch pecu
arly fits them for the occupation OF sorting the diff
DR.. Bowring notices two invaluable elements for
governing them well when they are brought to.
cether in settlements, which, he says will be inva-
riably found among the Chinese-the habit of asso-
citation. and respect for authority How to govern
men who have attained tie point Of civilization to
which the Chinese have arrived, Is no easy mat.
ter, more especially when q very peculiar system
of ethics and religion and the traditions Of centuries
Of national isolation, combine to interpose for
midable barrier between the rulers and the ruled.
Pie very qualities which DR.. Bowring instances as
such important aids to the enforcement ana pre-.
servatien Of discipline, seem dependent almost for
their existence upon the maintenance Of national
customs, national institutions, and national modes of
thought. Respect-theq quality which il the founda-
ton Of all 0bedience-is with them directed into
peculiar channel by the influence Of habit and early
education. What they learn to reverence Is old age,
parental authority, and such literary excellence as
consists in the knowledge of their classical books.
DR.. Bowrng informs that he has himself witnessed
examples where turbulent mob, wholly regardless
Of the presence OF armed military mandar!ns and
bands Of soldiers has listened to and dispersed o. the
suggestion Of solitary literary mandarin, appearing
only with his TAM and quoting to them some aphorism
from the books of their sages. Sach people are
docile gentle and tractable in the hands OF those
who can appeal to them in the way which long ex.
perience has shown to give ready access to minds
SO peculiarly constituted and trained but apt to
prove unmanageable and refractory when placed
under system alien to their feelings and their ha
ton cfIv, md In hoL
Eeves that his country is superior in its Learning,
literature and institutions, to any portion Of the
outer world and this deeply iDsred national vani-
ty is great bar to his proving docile under the
with coolies have been lost by the Chiuese rising
upon the officers and and it is stated that, in
some instances at least, there has been good reason
to believe that the calamity may be fairly attributed
ment of the passengers, and of proper care in pro
viding for their accommodation aud good treat
ment. 1.-The Chinese" says the consul at Shang-
haze, twill often bear great deal for
last to impotence or resistance, they know no re-
straint, and have no value for human lfe." And
not only are they stung to resi- stance by Injurious
Treatment but there are certain indulgences, and
certain amount of consideration in trfles, on which
they insist and without which they are sure to make
their employers regret that he has spent his money
in engaging their services. They winot bear being
kept very closely to their work, allow themselves
to be driven forward at faster pace than is habtua
TO them. AS living is cheap in their native country,
they never care to serve in place that does not suit
them "They are fond OF sort of gossiping relaxa-
ton; and will often leave off for few minutes in the
middle Of their work. however well disposed to do It
fairly, while they smoke and chatter" They are
fond OF holidays, and manage in their native conn-
try to make good many. If they are dissat SIZED
with their work or their treatment and are in cir.
oumstances where they cannot or dare not leave,
they become sulky and impracticable. In short,
under judicious and considerate masters, they are
some OF the best, and under negligent severe
tiers, some Of the worst, lab0rers to be found.
There does not seem to be much difficulty in find
ing persons willing to emgrate, although, Of course,
those who leave their own country are never among
the thriving and settled portion of the population.
But the rate Of wages is very low, and sufficient
number can always be tempted by the prospect Of
the ample remuneration which tropical planter can
efford to bestOw; 4d or perhaps 3d., is the daily
hire OF an able bodied man. A first class agricul.
tura laborer is ON the footing of skilled craftsman
and receives Cd day; he is expected for this to
derstsnd sowing and reaping, ploughing and irri-
eating. the compromising OF manures, liquid and solid
(Which is the great triumph OF Chinese agriculture
and generally the entire culture OF rice, wheat, met,
Indian corn, sugar cane, and numberless other pro-
ducts of the soil. A man who knows 30 much as thi
may well be anxious to receive rather more than f8
year. Emigration is expressly prohibited by the law
Of China, but this does not seem to operate as any
check upon its amount or even on the degree OF pub
Ncity with which it is carried on. To leave the do
miniOns Of their father, the Emperor, Is henOus
rebellion against his parental authority, but is one
that is always pard0ned, or, rather, overlooked The
emily effect Of the existence Of the probibitory law is
that in cases where Chinese return to their native
country, they have to offer portion of their wealth
70 the mandarin in command Of the district to per
suade him to remain unconscious of their having
wandered from their hcme An instance of one re-
turned emgrant is given, whose gains abroad had
been so large that he was prepared to disburse
100000 as hush money to the mandarns.
The coolies are generally procured through the
agency of number of crimps, who are dignided
with the name Of coolie brokers. These crimps
practise all the arts Of recruiting. They send Out
the poor and idle about the towns. They distribute
printed bills, containing the terms Of the contract
They lend cash to those whom after examining, they
accept, for the purpose Of gambling and buying
cakes, or disbu.se dollar or two to quiet frends
which they are afterwards repaid with usurous in.
terest when the contracts are signed, and the ad
vances upon the contracts have been made to
the coolies on board the vessel, as she is on the
point Of starting. But there has not, it Is said
been any approach to kidnapping, and, gene
rally speaking, the treatment of the coolies while
still on shore has given no ground for com.
plant. The emigration to the West Indies is
Der who have keen sent out to Australia are
scarcely to be considered even the Beginning OF an
emigration. But we learn from the terms of the
contracts entered into by persons emgatng these
sufficient to induce Chinese to quit his home. By
The Demerara contract, toe coolies bound to work
In shops, sheds, or in the fields, as may be conve
nient, for three dollars month. The allowance o
food is eight ounces of salt beef and one and hall
pounds Of plantaDs, beans, other similar kind Of
food. Medical assistance is guaranteed in the mfr
mary without loss of pay for fifteen days, after which
the pay stops but the patient continues in the in
Urinary till the termination OF the contract without
expense two suits of Clothes woollen jacket, and
blanket are allowed yearly the contract is to last
for eight years from arrival in Demerara
after which the emigrant is free to labor
for himself. A small sum of money is ad-
vanced, and two suits Of clothes supplied before
embarkatioD, and dollar is deducted every month
from the wages until the advanced and the Isl
OF the clothes is repaid. There stipulation fOl
the return Of the laborer to China. The Sydney con
tracts for five years; the wages are fixed at u
dollars per month, ana the weekly provision is to
consist Of ten pounds of meat and the same of wheat
quarter Of o pound of tea, and snch other articles
cs may be agreed on.
The greatest obstacle to successful emigration oil
the Chinese is the almost invincole repugnance Of
Chinese women TO leave their homes. Ii is q current
report respecting the native emigration to the com
pany's settlements in the Straits, that though the