The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1864-05-28

from whence TO obtain a supply Of labor and Of per-
manent population. Certain advantages were self
evident. The Poiynesian Islands ara near to US, aud
the inhabitants are of the same race as those of this
Kingdom, and would a~malgamate with them. On
the other hand. it was considered very doubtful
whether any large number of them could be induced
to come, after the recent i'll treatment of many of
them by kidnappers from Peru. 1t was finally con-
sidered that although it would be very desirable that
His MAjesty's Government should make the attempt
to import a few-say fifty to one hundred with their
women-on trial, that at present We could not rely
on the Polynesian Islands to supply the imminent
demand for laborers.
The attention of the Committee was then directed
to China as the next nearest source of supply. The
Chinese laborers are n class that we know something
of, and the conclusion arrived at by the Committee
was, that the good Chinese laborers were some of the
best in the world. and under appropriate conditions
will yield more work than perhaps any other class
that we should be able to import. Bat the best
Chinese laborers, the peasantry proper, are not al
lowed to leave their country, and are difficult if not
impossible to obtain. The men that are usually
shipped as laborers taken abroad are the ofTscourings
Of the country, rogues, thieves and pirates, and al
though good work may be got out of them with strict
laws and an adequate force always at hand to enforce
them, the joint Committee was unanimously of
opinion that this class Of Chinese would neither give
satisfaction to the planter nor be an acquisition to
the permanent population of the country. The fact
also that respectable Chinese women will not leave
their country, and that to bring either men or
women away at all, is illegal in China, were reasons
why His Majesty's Government might well object to
take steps for their importation.
The importation of Western Islanders was also
10000 -.
the Portuguese Government now permitted them to
leave. Under any circumstances, the wages these
men would expect is more than planters could give
for what may be called the stock laborers. or laborers
in gangs. The Committee were Of opinion that an
importation of n number of Western Islanders as
well as of Scotch, German and other European peas
antry, would be very advantageous 10 this Kingdom,
but that none of these were exactly the class of la
borers they were now more particularly in search of.
Borneo, Sumatra, Celebes. Luzon and the Islands
of Malaysia generally, were spoken of as places
where laborers might be found, but the Committee
has no knowledge or certain information with regard
to any Of them, and do not know whether it is prac-
ticable to induce the inhabitants to leave those coun-
or whether they would be suitable if to be
obtained.
The only class remaining OF whom the Committee
had any information was the East Indian Coolies, and
more particularly the Hill Coolies, which for many
years past have been regularly shipped from Calcutta
10 the West Indies and to the Mauritius. These men
are well known, they are ~tolerably industrious, but
have not the physical strength of the Chinese; they
engage for the West Indies and the Mauri-
thus for less wages than Cinnamon. They are no.
turbulent, but on the contrary, are very docile and
and as far as the Committee can ascertain,
are of a race which would a~malgamate readily with
he Sandwich Islanders. They take their women
them, and usually engage for FIVE years, the
planter paying their passage out. They then have
he option of leaving and returning home if they
choose, or are able to pay their passage; but if not.
L~- - -~~-o-e~-
or five years longer, who has to pay their passage
at the end of the time, if required. Perhaps
he only objection to the importation of these people,
the distance they have to be brought ard the con-
equent expense of their passage.
The above information respecting the Hill Coolies
sas obtained principally from Capt. Parkinson, of
he ship Brechin Castle, who was recently in this
port, and who has been seven voyages to and from
'alcutta with cargoes Of these people. He stated
hat Coolies were also shipped from Madras. but that
hey are apt to be insubOriinate and troublesome
there they can obtain any intoxicating liquor.
On q review of all the circumstances, the Commit
ee was of opinion that these Hill Coolies shipped
rom Calcutta would be the most desirable class of
iborers that We could import; and they are of opin-
On that, in accordance with the Report of the Com
,ittee of the Planters Association. n suitable agent
hould be employed by the government and dispatched
Singapore as a central point, and from thence cor
espond with the emigration agents and others at
.alcutta, as we'll as with parties at any ports or
laces in the East where in his judgment Informal
on could be obtained; aNd that said agent should
unless he received information within a few months
lat would lead him unquestionably TO adopt a differ.
Mt course) proceed to Calcutta and ship four or
We hundred of said Hill Coolies with their engage
tents properly drawn up with His Majesty's Gov
-nment.
With regard to the proportion of women to men,
ne joint Committee was of opinion that fifty women
one hundred men would meet the views of the
and the government.
The agent should have a limit given him for the
of the passage of the Coolies. and of their
onthly wages, which the Committee considered
Ight not TO exceed one hundred dollars for passage
nd advance, and FIVE dollars per calendar month for
lie men and three dollars per month for the women;
ut the ommitte was of opinion that a vessel might
enerally be chartered from Calcutta for Honolulu to
ring FIVE hundred Coolies and their provisions, and
" one hundred and fifty tons of rice, at a figure
lat would make them stand in considerably less
ian one hundred dollars per head.
1t was the opinion Of the joint COMMITTEES that for
lie present, no obstacles or restrictions should be put
the way of importing any other class of laborers
: planters or private individuals on their own &C.
unit. as our knowledge and experience on the sub