The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-02-14
Tho Chincha Islands.

We copy tho following letter from the Chinchs
Islands from New Haven paper. These islands are
important, as containing large deposits OF guano
The abolitionsts OF our country, and those who
in the habit OF laudng the humanity and philan-
throphy Of England may have read the other side Of
the picture and formed opinion Of the honesty of
the motives which she is so fond OF paradng before
the world. II is high time she was unmarked, and
we trust the publication Of this letter may have this
effect. when It meets the eyes Of the millions Of read
ers ofths NEW YORK HERALD.
The writer says:-
The guano is dug by Chinese coolies or laborers,
who are brought here by English ships from the free
made to believe that they are geing to do we'll by
engaging to serve laborers for five years at real
york shlling) day aud a scaHty allowance Of
nee. They fancy, it is said, they are coming to
labor in the gold mines Of California. However
this may be, il is certain that they are shipped
here in English vessels, and transferred or assign
ed Cor whatever the word for such transaction
should BED to tho Peruvian government. have
known Engl'shmen who spoke of having been en-
gagged in the traffic. The government. places them
on these islands, avowedly under the original con-
tract, to labor for five years-but VINO is to
know how far this contract, IL such it may
be called is adhered to? The truth Is, the poor
Cinnamon are sold into absolute savery-sod by
Englishmen into savery-the worst and most cruel,
perhaps in the world. Here are about eight hun
dred OF the unotuDat e creatures at work on these
islands at time; as fast rs death thins then out
the number is increased by new importstions. The
labor Is severe. much more so than that Of the ne
groes on our Southern plantations. They are kept
At hard work in the hot sun throughout the day.
On the middle island they are tasked, each one,
strong aid weak alike, to dig from the hill and wheel
10 the maUgneras five tons of guano each per diem.
The guano is compact, like hard, clay like loan, and
rs dusty, when dug as ashes. On the north island
it has To be blasted for tine steam paddles 1t has to
be wheeled from hundred yards to quarter Of q
miles the nature OF the labor may be conceived. The
ffac nrh net bad md trNnt ooJ
where il meyer rains. They are slender figures, and
40 not look strong. Negro drivers--the most ugly
looking blacks lever saw-are stationed among them,
with heavy thongs, which have seen them use. The
poor coolies have 10 hope OF reward, no days OF rest
The smoke OF their torment goes up on Sundays
rs welt as on week days. Ii blows away 10
yellow cloud miles to leeward, and never see it
without thinking what hell on earth these islands
must be. That | do not exaggerate this account
any who has been here will readily bear witness.
The fact that some of the Chinese almost every week
commit suicide to escape their fate shows the true
state of their case. was told that than sixty
had killed themselves during the year, chiefly by
throwing themselves from the cliffs. They are buried
as they live, like so many dogs. / saw one who had
been drowned-it WAS not known whether acciden-
tally or notifying on the guano when first went
ashore. All the morning his dead body lay in the
sun; in the afternoon they had covered It few
inches, and there it lies, along with many similar
heaps within few yards of where they are digging.
On the north island the Chinese carry heavy water
casks, suAs on poles between two up the steep hill;
they can in this way, as well as in barrows take
weights altogether dsproportionate to their slender
forDs. They look unhappy, as well they may. We
know that the Chinese are strongly attached to their
Dative soil. Wretched and halt barbArous as they
may be, dark may be their souls, they still have
human feelings, and am not constituted that l
witness the injustice Of their treatment aud their
suferiDgs without passion without indignation.
1t ought TO be made known wherever English law
prevails that these poor creatures deceived and
sold into seryitude from which they almost daily
seek escape through death by EDglishmen 1t Is
not domestic slavery in which they placed they
were not born slaves they not protected by any
laws; there are no women with them; their condi-
ton is worse than that OF any criminals exiles,
prisoners in any civilized nation. 1t ought to be eve
rywhere known. Americans, who have to bear the re-
proaches of the English for institutions entaied upon
them, and Ybch they could not avoid have right
to reply, that the worst slavery that exists among
the civilized nations of the earth is maintained by
British subjects who transport coolies 10 the Chincha
Islands 1t Is not the fault of the English that the
same system is not carried on in Australia. The COO
lies brought there, however, have not turned ont
good speculation But the taking and selling free
men to such tssk.masers as the Peruvians, who are
little letter than the Chinese. is outrage to hui
manity. and a reproach to British rule. Let the
next SLAYER the Eoglish cruisers capture be one of
their owa ships, with cargo of coolies for this
market