The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1860-01-12
LETTER FROM CHINA.
MACAO, CHINA, July 2, 1859.

more than usual attention. Circulars have been
issued by the Chinese, denouncing those engag-
ed in the business, and warning the ignorant
and unwary. Proclamations have been issued
by the Mandarins, threatening severe penalties
against any who are found guilty. The allied
commissioners of France and England, who
govern the city of Canton, have also issued a
proclamation in Chinese, advising the people
that they do not sanction the practice of steal
ing men, and they assure the people of their as
sistance when called upon. Numerous stories
of men kidnapped, and the schemes for ensnar-
ing the young and unwary, have excited the
public mind, and have resulted in the above
demonstrations, aud in others of more violent
character.
The .city Of Macao is one of the principal
headquarters of the coolie traffic in China. IL
is Portuguese city, and has been occupied by
that nation for about three hundred years.
The streets and houses resemble those of city
in Southern Europe. 1t is situated abont nine
tymiles south of Canton, and forty miles west
of Hong Kong. The climate is delightful, and
has long been simmer resort for the families
of merchants and for invalds in search of
health. The population Of the city consists of
about 5000 Portuguese, and 10000 Chinese,
together with a few English, American, French,
Dutch, Spanish, Parsees, &c.
In former times the trade of Macao was Gerry
great, and her merchants lived like princes in
magnificent residences, affording all the luxu.
res required in a tropical climate. But her
glory has departed. Her maguit cent churches
and spacious dwellings still tell of her former
power and pride but the degenerated descend
ants of ambitious and energetic ancestors show
how great changes have been wrought by Pope
ry, the climate, and crime.
This is short sketch Of the city which has
become within three years the headquarters of
traffic in human flesh, which is becoming so
extensive as to require an investigation into ;ts
character.
Being here for a short time, in pursoit of
health, | desired to examine the barracoons
and learn something of the modl.s operandi of
the business. A favorable opportunity offered.
and on yesterday | accompanied nv friend the
Rev. Mr.. A. of Hong Kong, who was looking
for six men that had been kidnapped az
Swatow, in the eastern part of this province.
There are five or six depots for the reception
OF coolies, but only one ia occupied at this
time. Several of these barracoons were former
ly the residences Of princely merchants.
We had but little difficulty 10 gaining admis.
sion when our object WAS not known. "a there
Is desire to exhibit the good order and cam
fort and happiaess enjoyed by the Coolies. Il
was said that about five hundred men were in
at the tine OF our visit. They had comfortable
clean, and airy quarters, and had the appear.
ance OF being well fed, and external cireum-
stances seemed quite favorable; and had we
been satisfied, we might have gone away AZ
Others have done, and sung a siren song over
the sufierings of Oar fellow men. But we Wished
to see undsE she surface, aud we were enabled
to dn 'hrs because we could speak 10 the prison
ers IN their own language; We asked as maay
as we could bow they came to be there, and
each GAG answered, was deceived, deladed.w
10 you want to go home again2 They answer.
es, but have no money, and how can IL
when VII you come back from this foreign
land to which you are goingP This they could
not answer. One man offered to serve me
three or four years, without wages, ifI would get
him out
we were not, however, permitted to oues.3oo
the poor fellows very long. It was soon diseov-
cred that We could talk with them, and ,se were
closely watched by Portuguese guards, about a
dozen OF whom were constantly moving about
Carrying rattans, with which to enforce order
We also noticed that if any of the coolies talked
with US, his number was a, once taken down
Tor the purpose, no doabs, of giving him such
punishment as wou.l prsTent repetition of the
act.
Our vista in the morning was one Of obserya.
uoh' having obtained authority from the pro-
curador, or Judge, we returned in the afternoon
10 look for the men sought by my friend. Now
we saw displayed the cloven foot of the beat.
Win special authority to enter the barrac;,on.
every effort was used to prevent us. NJ ,arget'
the owner became enraged. The Po-tnpnese
agents and interpreters stormed AID teamed
But we would take no denial. After some Tins.
we succeeded in getting in, bot we were fol.
lowed by the excited crowd Of Portuguese and
ny the guards, so that a1sthing like fair in
vesiigation was out Of the question. Nv friend
could not speak Tssh any one unless he was
overaweo by tAe presence of his masters and
"hen wp~m attempt to speak to a man. he
was thsast away, and forbidden to utter a word.
After continuing our fruitless efforts long
enough, we retired, filed with melancholy re.
nections on the scenes we had witnessed. There
were over five hundred men and BOYS (many of
them between IA and 2O) imprisoned with. no
nope OF escape, and yet no crime was CHARGED
against them. They were to be transported to
a foreign land, (Cuba,l from which tlsere was
no hope of return. More than 9,0,jO coolies
have been shipped from Macao within the last
six months, and the condition Of those we saw
%as the condition of ali.
The means used to collect these men az
hibits the diabobcal rlature of the business.
Agents are employed who go about the coun-
try to gatber up sgch as are suitable. The
agent gets about $40 per head. Now, this is half
a years wages; and if he gets one coolie. he
can live that long without work. If he obtains
SIX men, he receives a sum of money which
will make him rich in comparison with the
masses OF laboring men. Now, let it be OBJ
served that very large reward is offered to
avaricious men, and these men have no sense
of moral responsibility TO restrain them from
any means that may be necessary to secure
their victims; and in the midst of a population
so dense, it is easy to find many unsuspectinp
victims. Every possible scheme to dscoy the
unwary is used, but perhaps the most common
is as follows: The cooie agent finds man out
of employ, and informs him that he has friend
in Macao who will give him work and high
wages. He promises to take him to the place
and soon the poor fellow finds himself prison.
err. Another plan is to take advantage of the
gambling propensities of the Chinese. TIE
coolie agent lends money to man to gamble
with he loses; the agent says, pay me that
money or follow me. He has him in his nower
and takes him to the barracoon, and gets his
reward. Cases of actual kidnapping are nm
merous, and it is not strange thst it should he
80, when so great a temptation ia offered In
men who value money above every other GOOD.
If the devices used to decoy the good men who
have been shipped from this port could be
Known, how dark would be the record. TIE
very fact that so large sum is paid per head