The New York herald., 1865-12-20

sanu, ica. ing excess OF arrivals amounting uFe
hundred and thirty Thousand.
Furguson an excellent authority says on the subject
OF the present number Of Tamil coolies in Ceylon:-"Ac
cordine TO wide and cumulative concurrence OF tes
mony would app that have been in the habit or
greatly undertaking the number Of Tamil emgrants set
tied in Ceyon II Is said by good authorities much
two hundred and ty thousand than hundred
and twenty thousand; the Tamils who originally
came In as estate laborers, being now spread
over the face OF the country as gardeners, cart
drivers, house servants, store and wharf coolies
IN fact IN every possible relation Of life. We
cannot doubt that this Is tho case aud IL ia believed
that regular census would show that multitude OF
the coolies OF Southern India look Ceyon not merely
as place OF temporary sojourn, but as permanent
The mortality among coolies the island is from the
very nature OF circumstances, great though thero
seems 10 be question that in this respect they
much better of than in India During the first years OF
conee planting the mortality was much greater than
within late yeare the arrangements then being incom
pete but, at the best n0w the cooe Is notsyery
much better. The Tamil IN his own country, inhabts
ow acreeion, with dry, hot climate. In Ceylon il Is
just the reverse Here particularly the estates coolies
occupy high. mouptanous cool and rainy climate.
Taken ia the best state Of phys cal development the
powers OF endurance and III able 10 long endure such
exposure In this situation, too, in Ceylon he changes
mono OF his habits and clDgs to his simple CLOTH form
ing covering about the ions and protecting not over
width OF ono foot We do not wonder at the dreadful
mortality when such IL his condition.
Notwithstanding the neglect OF his physical condition.
the here has gone 70 some trouble and
cse OF the brain 70 draw up sort OF code called the
Labor Laws Of Ceyion, setting forth the relations OF
aw9.--
They define generally tho unwritten contract Of hire
and service contract Of hire and service for at least
one month; declaring such contract TO be renewable
from month to month"; and be deemed in law to be
received unless proper notice be given enables the
servants, where wages are payable monthly, but at
daily rate for each working day If willing 10 work. to
receive his whole monthly wages whether there work
for him or not u entities the employer under such
contract 10 discharge his servant laborer without
notice, npon payment OF all wages due and wages for
fifteen days from fhe time such discharge II pro-
Dr n tnAc N
conduct Of either party II makes provision for written
contracts for periods Of service exceeding month,
but not exceeding three years, by which the interests
Of the servant or laborcr are well protected II de-
termnes such heightened contracts entered with
agricultural aborers before their expiration by mutual
consent. expressed in writing, by conviction, impson
ment or incapacity OF tho employed, requiring the
employer in case Of such incapacity, u Furnish the
laboref with adequate means Of returning 10 his
country. u imposes penalties upon persons seducing
from his service the aborer who has contracted TO
for heightened period II punishes the deseri.on
misconduct Of the aborer by forfeiture Of
wages, or imprisonment II imposes penalty upon the
employer for not acting up TO his contract and upon
tho employed for making false statements Of his former
employment or altering his character IL makes wages
due upon contracts for lengthened per os Of service
first charge upon the estate Of the employer and pro-
ydes Tor ehe payment OF wages to- certain amount In
fun out OF the estate OF an insolvcDt master. exer
cises supervision over employers Of Immigrant
labor by requiring them 70 make quarterly re-
tnrps of the number Of laborers in their
employ Of those who have died IN their employ and Of
the probable cause OF death in each There
several other laws protecting the servant from
pusory labor on roads &c but having no relation TO the
condition OF things in the United States.
The above synopsis Of the law II s in force,
and appears TO the parties interested to be satisfactory
Several new questions, however, calling for more de-
tailed expression OF certain points, is under
sidcrafion for instance, the enforcement Of the law.
the extending Of tho powers Of justices OF the peace
~ 20 vest IN them The authority 10 extend TO coolies IN
initial to prison return 70 work. and to q
perfect arrangement for tho apprehension of deserter
With all this delnitiye angenent OF the labor Ques
fon is left for individual humanity TO look after the
other and more important interests Of life and health.
The planter has interest in his men, except ns mere
machines capable Of onpliehng results Tho
exhaustion OF all the efforts OF which the laborer is
capable ii all that s thought 0f. No improvements Of
dress and careful outstanding OF forces consider
cd. No efforts are made at civilization and improve
mens1n habits religion and general living Tue CON-
pensaton OF cooe is so small that he can barely live
and beastly nt01caton rest days is permitted with
out evon an attempt at checking the owl No marital
relations exstin fact the condition u the eooie is not
a bit better than the brute during my visit 10 the
coffee plantations met several planters, and made
rather free in questioning them upon the condition
Of the coole The planters seemed 70 have but idea
tho subject and that is that cooic is good for
much work in many days and will last many years,
when new lot must be engaged. For my personal in
formation visited plantation 10 gee where and how
the coolies live found them housed In what termed
the ''Co0ie Lines" several Of story
buildings b8ih Of mud and thachod. There were
f4oors no chinneys and no windows-pecul,ares, how
evcr OF al the houses OF the natives The drainage
not good aud tho grounds around the nes improperly
kept The coolies naturally are filthy in their habits,
and what attention ia given 70 their quarters by hcadmcn
and supennteDdens Ia insufficient to keep out disease
In regard TO their work, oil the occupants Of the nes
able 10 be about every morning at hour appointed
for tho purpose obliged to attend roll call when the we'll
sre started 10 the fields In gangs under headnan while
the really sick arc examined doctored and sent back
TO the lines coolle is expected 70 work 1--WE days
out of the remaining two being devoted TO sleep
and purchasing the weeks supply q curry s.as He IS
shiings 81 T5) per week. The employer, in order 70
guard against osscs, always holds In his keeping about
three months pay Rice Is furnished the estates At
tie market rntee, the amount deducted from
pay This At least insuress tho cooIe something TO eat
Upon the whole tho cooe has for hs about half
hts earnings, which he distributes between drink and
trpkets for the women
Generally All cases Of rifng characterization and potty
Ss e no
home generally given according TO the popular wish
Of the COOLER, the planters pronouncing the
but iudcously administered rho only method OF trca
ing OF such murder, extensive theft and the
like, .. law, when the guilty arc soat with Is their
crInes deserve In all the courts the native well
the cooe stands tho same opportunities ~ the white
man.
plantations is 10 allow some responsible headman
tain amount Of advance his wages with permission
visit his home ne promising 70 return certain NUMBER
brought back the headmnn gets premium besides pay
according 10 the size OF his gang All the espens Of
transportation and food the journey taken from the
coolies wages.
What means are used TO induce coolio TO leave his
native country cannot say from personal knowledge;
fraud.
may add IN self defence that theYe MOI tho least
use on the part Of OF the remains OF the anewar
thinkers aud in attempting 10 provo the blcss
ngs OF slavery by the condition Of tho coolic because
to start WITH there not the cast similarity between
the American negro and tho Tamil any other coole-
In the Of the former negro speaks English, and
his mind the oxcnt of its faculties bo reached
thus be instructed easily Ia regard to the require
mens OF his condition. Such IN not the with
the coolie The full extent OF go which can now DO
done relates 10 his physical wants 20 much neglected
Time alone will enable him 10 sufficiently understand
the language OF the superior race % enjoy the
benefits Of the philsnthropc may choose 70
exert; vicc In the Of the whites
learning the Tamil or language Of tho coolio
to carry out the ends. The negro
is controlled by n deep religious feeling. Tho Tamil
is wrapped the grosscst doatry In fact u y useless
10 speak detail Our negro IL vastly superior In intel
ecua capacity physically and morally, 10 the cooo of
Ccylon; and In addition, probably latent has srib.
ton and pride which the latter has not trust deeply
In the sagsciIy and wisdom OF the American people %
place the negro in condition 10 elevate himself by
throwing around him the example OF frecmen-of law.