New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-02-18


rived At the bsrraeoon in a starving condition, many 10
,m.eaied that life hung merely by thread, we cease
30 wonder that their old IDEAS Of exclusiveness are
gradually giving way to the desire of emigratng to
lands where work brings at least the necessares Of
Ufs ENGAGING in conversation with these through our
n,ernre,sr we end them happy in their present com
ors ready and anxious to start for the land they nave
contracted to labor in curious and full of questions in
regard to the cbow-chow this ehow-chow beng 'he
srs and last idea of CbiDamanhe seems indifferent
TO most anything else and TO stop bis chowcno" or
only one meal il the very worst punishment you can
ipact Of that country, and qnite willing TO acSno"i
edge the impossbiity OF their keeping body and sou
together in their own land
Many Of these coolies are from the immediate neigh
borbood of Macao and have presented themselves a.
the Office of the barracoon requesting to be received
many have been brought bypareDts and relations and
Others have been brought from interior provinces by
brokers' In this latter Gaze their expenses paid
the brokers who forward them from the price
tsIS or 500 which the Company offers as bonus
for enlistment. On applying at the office, the coolies
receive, written in Chinese, the terms under which
they will be taken, which ON a printed form of
contract, to be signed by them. They agree, for so
much down and so much per month, 10 allow them
selves to be transported TO a designated foreign
country and there to work to the best of their ability
for said Company, or for whoever else TO whom said
Company may hire out their services for the term of
five or eight years. as the case may be- said Company
promising to give clothing, food medical attendance,
etc., during such time. The cody is given this con-
tract which is signed before witnesses by the Compa
pys agent and by the Mandarin Inspector. The cooe
and bis friends agreeing to this it only becomes neces
cary that the applicant be over 16 years of age per-
fecly healthy in body and mind, not confirmed
opium. eater, in any way deformed, 70: him TO
gain admission into the baTacoOn. He is now stripped
of his old tattered garments receives pure white or
blue suit consisting of pair loose pddmds or loose
trousers jacket, shoes, bamboo-hat and long reed
| pipe, tobacco-pouch, chop sticks, &C. lie Is then
shown his sleepDg-place, given his sleepine-mat,
blanket and pillow. The Chinese sleeping-apparatus
s of the simplest description consisting merely of
plated mat to sleep on, bamboo pillow, and one
warm blanket In the Northern part of China they
have stone platforms to sleep upon, with ovens be-
nesth where they build fires, and thus give pleasant
temperature to their beds. The coolie is assigned his
particular mess Tbese messes consist of ten men
EACH one of their number having charge of and being
responsible for, the utensils used while eating.
No work save that Of necessary cleanliness is re-
quIed of the coolies, either in bsrracoons or the
ships transporting them; and, when not washing, eat
ing or sleeping gambling, theatrical representations,
or acrobatc exercises afford them plenty Of amuse-
ment. So universal is gambling so much par: Of
Chipaman's being, that the Companies have found it
necessary to alo them go much =" cash. per day to
play with. " Fan-tan," the game of quadrating,
cash. appears to be the most popular game of chance.
The banker places pile Of cash under a bowl, and
calls upon the players guess the remainder that will
be left after the pile has been divided by four whether
l. @ g. or nothing; this gives the coolies great delight,
and as they bet heavily, the profits to the banker
large.
Theatrical representations also constitute a
source of amusement and the companies have erected
stages in their baraeoons for such purposes. Boys
take the female characters land very pretty women
they make, tool and though the scenery is very Sim
pie requiring much to be mgge sted by the magma
ton, STILL as the acting is chiefly pantomme and the
initiative faculties Of the players excellent the general
efiec is very good.
The Chinese passionately fond of music, and are
supplied with all the native instruments by the compa-
Mes and, although their music sounds harshy at first
to Western ears yet there ia wild sweetness in it at
times. The "Sin-fa one Of their national airs would
pass muster with even of the sweet melodies of
Norma.
Though these coolies sometimes one or two
months in barracoon, they manage to amuse them
selves vastly, and without much disagreement. Two
of them will sometimes fall out and go at it, with
great variety Of gestcuaon and loud vociferaon of
opprobIium, but soon blow of their wrath and sep
srae without much damage In the hight of quarrel,
the dpuants bring their faces cose together and ab
Der their cultural sounds into each others open mouth,
he.
goods to a large crowd in the open air. OF sudden,
they will turn about and make speeches to the aud
ien,e, in which the whole head and front of their
grievances explained. If either thinks to have en-
listed tympa,hzers, he turns about again to face his
opponent the faces together and the taunts and
deiances again shouted in wild confusion, into the
irae faces Of each other.
Such being the state Of things in the barracoon, let
examine the vessels appropriated for the transpora-
ton of coolies In the selection of their ships, the
Company prefer clippers, not only because the passage
will be shorter, but, what is important, that in
places where light winds or Gains prevail such vessels
can, from their extreme sharpness of model edge along
and cause that circulation of air which is indispensable
10 protect from vitiated air compact number in the
restricted spaces sbipboard The vessel must have
roomy deck that the greater part Of her passengers
may be there at one time These two points are looked
upon as the best means of promoting naval hygienics
The space between decks must be at least feet in
the clear, to afford room for free circulation Of air,
which is supplied from the matches by of air
conductors ventilators, stationary or movable. |
There are alsO ports at the sides to admit full supply
Of light.
The sleeping accommodations consist of two rows Of
bertbs on either side and double tier in the center,