Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1854-03-08
THE CHINCHA ISLANDS.

We copy the following letter from the Chin
cha Islands from New Haven paper. These
islands are important, as containing large depos-
its of guano. The abotionists of our country,
and those who are in the habit of lauding the
humanity and philanthropy of England, may
have read the other side of the picture, ,and FORM
ed an opinion of the honesty of the motives
which she is so fond of parading before the
world. 1t is high time she was unmasked, and
we trust the publication of this letter may have
this effect.
The writer says:
"The guano is dug BY Chinese coolies or la
borers, who are brought here by English ships
from the free ports of their native coasts. The
poor fellows are made to believe that they are
going to do well by engaging to serve as labor
ers for five years at real (York shilling) day
and scanty allowance of rice. They fancy, it
is said, they are coming to labor in the gold
mines Of California. However this may be, it is
sells, and transferred or assigned, Cor whatever
the word for such a transaction should be,) TO
The Peruvian Government have known Eng
shmen who spoke Of having been engaged in
the traffic. The government places them on
these islands, avowedly under the original con-
tract, to labor for five years. but who is to know
how far this contract if such it may be called, is
adhered to! The truth is, the poor Cinnamon
are sold into absolute slavery-sold by English
men into slayery-tbe worst and most cruel
perhaps, in the world. Here are about eight
hundred Of the unfortunate creatures at work on
these islands at a time as fast as death thins
them out the number is increased by new i'm
portations. The labor is severe, much more so
than that of the negroes on our Southern plant
ations. They are kept at hard work in the hot
sun throughout the day. On the middle island
| they are tasked, each one strong and weak alike
| to dig from the hill and wheel TO the maDgneras
| five tons Of guano each per diem. The guano
is compact, like hard, clay-ike oam and as dus
| ty, when dug, as ashes. On the north island il
has to be blasted for the steam paddles. 1t has
| to be wheeled from hundred yards to quar-
ter of mile; the nature Of the labor may be
conceived. The Chinese work almost naked
a tropical sun, where it never rains. They are
slender figures, and do not look strong. Negro
drivers-the most ugly looking blacks eve,
saw-are stationed among them, with heavy
thongs, which have seen them use. The poo!
coolies have no hope Of reward, no days of rest
The smoke Of their torment goes up on Sun
days as well as on week days. 1t blows away
in yellow cloud miles to leeward, and | never
see it without thinking what hell on eartl
these islands must be. That do not exagger.
ate this account any one who has been here vii
readily bear witness. The fact that some of thl
Chinese almost every week commit suicide tc
escape their fate shows the true state Of their
case. / was told that more than sixty had killed
themselves during the year, chiefly by throwing
themselves from the cliffs. They are buried a.
they lived like so many dogs. | saw one who
had been drowned-it was not known whethe
accidentally or notifying on the guano when
first went ashore. All the morning his deaC
body lay in the sun; in the afternoon they haC
covered it few inches, and there it lies, along
with many similar heaps, within a few yards o
where they arc digging On the north islanc
the Chinese carry heavy water casks, slung oil
poles, between two, up the steep hill; they cal
in this way, as well as in barrows, take weights
altogether disproportionote to their slende
forms. They look unhappy, as well they may
We know that the Chinese are strongly attach
cd to their native soil. Wretched and half.bar
barous as they may be, dark as may be thei
souls, they still have human feelings, and an
not so constituted that can witness the injus
tice of their treatment and their sufferings with
out ompassion-without indignation. 1t ough
to be made known wherever English law pre-
walls, that these poor creatures are deceived an
sold into a servitude from which they almost da
ly seek escape through death, by Englishmen.-
IL is not domestic slavery in which they are pla
ccd; they were not born slaves; they are no
protected by any laws; there are no wonle
with them; their condition is worse than that Q
. I..