New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-06-04
The Csslie Trndc fssm China to Cubn.

To n> Editor Of Ia, n. j. T,a,ss,
SIR: There il an extensive and lucrative trade
for Of the contracting partes) carried between
China and tie Island OF Clba ia speculation
ofimpsrting coolies operatives. NaTous comments
on I, Rave been circulated and while soAs have adv3.
Gated rho enterprise Of colonization Of the pro
moters Of progress Others have repre- sened IL tho
wors, kind Of slavery. I consider 1t right well N
duty publish any toms that may enable the public a.
large to form correct opinion on this subject
physician by profession with twoive years Of rrsCr
,ice induced % accept the position OF surgeon Oh
board = cooe ship heund from Macao 10 Havana me
facts which under my observation and Which
about to submit, 30 You, need comment. .niyoo
may uso them yoa think proper.
Within the last three months. six Portuguese ships
have arrived la Havana. bringing Chinese passengers
from Macao The Luisi,a starisl with 3i2 passungcrs
and lost 90 TIE passage. Tho Canoes out ofs lost ST.
The Alfonso ID Albuquerque Lad - deaths oGt Of JG
passengers The Don Fernando took JOG passengers and
lost q The yascode Gana ost 22s out Of 506 Finally
the Donna Maria da Gloria had when abe left Macao
296 coolies on board. She lost tho Trip lGJ The
CONSEQUENCE Is that this year tho amoInt OF casualties
has been % por cont beside 30 unfbrtunaes who
became blind on the passage. aud Will never recover
their sight. &
Tho oscnsible object Of the coolie trade IL 90 improve
the condition Of the Chinese lower classes by giving
them sucIency Of the noccssarlcs Of life which they
never knew bcfore TO substitute gradually for tho in
famous slavctrsde emigration Of free operatives
lastly to promote civilization in China The coolies
after serving their eight years contract, would return to
their native cotsry with OF money sufficient to
make them independent aud comfortabc.a hoIne they
Ia il.aa
they had acquired abroad etc. All this looks very well
on paper. Let Us see how II works.
will admit that the Chinese at home ARE subject TO
oppression ltrcatmont. and many privatons. seine.
times hunger. or course allude TO the lower classes
In Havana. those who have luckily arrived alive and
not blind or crippled got enough to eat and shelter.
Those are tho only redeemlng traits Of the coole trade
AZ regards the Slavery question. the Is changed.
but nothing moro. A coolic serving eight years In
Havana Is. 10 all intenis and purposes slave. His
salary IL 81 per month in country whore the meansst
aborcr earns eoo He is subject to the bodily punish.
ment VI slave. and when lie has served his tim the
law allows him two months 10 find another master or
leave the Island; If not. lie 10 compelled to work r the
Government. Where Is tho difference between him and
slavet mistake; thcrcis difference ns regards tho
negro Ofho two the latter Is better treated for the
simple that he Ia intrinscay worth little over
three times tho value Of Chinese. coolio in Cuba
will average ~ ounces (so6O negro Ia worth from
10 10 rs ounces (ti. 900 to o.. a5O).
The last argument In favor Of the coole trade Is tho
promoting Of civilization in China for which purpose
the returned coolies are TO act a q medium. I will
merely state that there has never been found sufficient
number Of Chinese going back home to justify ship In
making return trip direct TO China Moreover have
lived three months In Macao and studied with peculiar
interest and assdutv all that concerns the Chinese en-