The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-05-02
FRENCH SLAVERY IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC.
II Is Aided and Allotted BY French Government
Authorities and Vessels.
Chinese and Pacific Islanders the Vic
TINS Of Revolving Cruelty
and Outrage.

and Outrage.
90. DC. 6c
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE or THE HERALD.
French Seizure and Rule or tho Society
lslands-An Anglo-Frcnch Cotton and Coffee
Planting SDecalaeiOn-.How and Whore
Slaves are Got and Keps-French Govern.
nent Authorities and Vessels Eugaged In the
Criminal Trade-Revoltiug Cruelty Of French
Tasknasters-Chinese Warning 20 Their
Fellow Cosntrymen-Contracs Labor In
French and English Hauds, &c.
SAN FRANcsoo March 70, 1887.
From Mr. William Poole, who arrived q this port on
Aonday from Tahiti have received account Of
system Of slavery existing that island, with the
ssnt and encouragement Of the French authorities,
which for systematic barbarity equalled
ny Southern plantation, and which should BE- known by
The civilized world. Mr. Poole IL an old Californian,
rssadent for some time past 1t Six Mile Bar Caaveras
county, CAL, and gentleman Of intelligence and rea
bility. His statements moreover corroborated by
others who have visited the Society Islands and BY
tsEs In the Chinese language which he brought from
fortunaiss there to their countymen In San Francisco
He loft this city December last with the intention OF
settling upon the islands IL he found the climate favor
able 10 his health but disguised with the legal
isod tyranny existing there that no returned as soon rs
possible n o@s~ yners
In accordance with the policy Of aggrandzement by
any mean which has been pursued BY the French the
Pacific, they years ago established what they
pleased TO call .protectorate'' over the Society
lsands to speak in English took complete possess
son Of them, diregarng in toto the rights Of the de-
fenceless natives. The government 10 unmitigated
military despotism, whatever laws the French COM
mandant chooses enact being supported by sufficient
force Of French gass davnses and marines The only
mi
practically appeal There number Of small plan
tatons the island owned and cultivated by individuals
among whom are one two Americans; but the great
plantation that Of "Atimona" owned by the Tahtan
Cotton and Coffee Plantation Company, Limited, the
sock Of which is held in London and Paris and to a
large extent by French officials II has principal Offices
In both Of those cities This plantation has becn under
cultivation for about three and very successful
- the soil is fertile and the climate well adapted to the
growth Of the best varieties OF Sea Island cotton the
plants being perennial and the picking lasting eli
tho year round. 1t or about four miles
square, nearly all Of which under cultivation and is
we'll supplied with machinery Of English make for
ginning, pressing, &C.
The chief manager and superintendent Of this planta
fion is one William Stuart native Of the North OF Ire
land, and last from Sydney, Australia He, together
With his brother James, represent the company and
transact all its business These virtually govern
she sand their win Is law, and in all they do they are
protected by the French using their ships troops to
ensave their aborer ont their nearious system
and intimidate punish all who moved by common
humanity to protest Against it. force of gems darmes
= maintained constantly the plantation 70 suppress
any attempt at revolt the part of the slaves any
white employee too curious stranger sent at once to
Papet in irons TO be tried by military public
road avees part Of the plantation but any obnoxious
psrson travelling it is ordered back at once and,mus
obey or brave the danger Of French prison and per
haps the gallcys
TO supply the labor necessary for this large plantation
ssme 900 100 labore required and the way in
which they are obtained and worked can nowhere be
paralleled for horror but in the annals OF the
LATIN races. These are nominaly paid laborers,
hired for . term Of years, and apparently pro-
tsoted by legal contracts bat in reality they are
slaves obtained by spurious representations or Kid.
slapped bv actual force; completely a. the mercy
Of their drivers and worked for the solo aim Of coming
money from their blood and sweat without the sIxh,cst
which are for them, in order 70 give show Of
legality 70 their enslavemen are drawn for term OF
3cur dollars month il matters little how much to The
company the unfortunate themselves for the
plantation they are completely IN the power q their
Chinsse ports Of Hong Kong and Macao whence several
shiploads brought; but the treatment 70 which
they subjected and tho labor which they were
psed to perform used Thorn very quickly, and the
managers have compelled look 70 other
muscle, especially from Hong Kong they get no
moro labOre some Of those the islands having
Ssn q ~Sssvsr csa Il viii 30 ar.
abs read and write, and thus occasionally
sAsr eountrymen in other places IS in the case OF the
this city BY Mr. POOLE But the islands
she south Pacific, which French rapacty has lately
Gated natives who may be dragged into slavery, and
large proportion Of the labores are now composed OF
M ns IL .sd
the treatment Of the poor poems on this "Atmona''
plantation truly revolving, and should DO known By
pspssrated and BY The government under whose pro-
lection It b carried on Men, women and children are
20 the extreme limit Of human endurance They arc
insufncisntly FED, hardly clothed II ALL and for the
iscssd 70 the noss cruel punishment their only value
being the amount Of labor which may DO dragged out Of
ehso There are some twenty-nvs kuropean ovsr,sers
= notorious all over the island for his nsndish and ~
Ansd cruelty. These overseeu 60 armed, and always
0slng 70 coming from vork The poems kept the
run, The ovenssr following with his whip and urging
down By hardships ana nsufcisns food destitute Of
clsshing and with backs 0rercd BY sores from the
position 70 work they are taken 70 me prisons Of The
piaaaton placed IN the stocks or tied up by the hands
and logged 90 wcksd nas death frequently ensues be-
Gara guard the plantation, and they succeed In
nsavng 10 they easily rscapured and brought back
Tho more refractory have either 70 carry ball and
ohain or chained Together; and when, often hap
pens ono Of these drops down 70 die u 1t distance
from the blacksmith shop the limb 70 which The chain
= attached Topped on and the drags about
With him until the days work is done The Chinese
character Ii passive and unressting, and their only
70 die but many Of the natives hard 70
sbreak in" the oveneers call t. Among other dia
bolica deeds Of this infamous Flea already mentioned
b one which will illustrate the spirit ruling the plantA
tsa- native woman who wss snceints and sick re-
fused TO work. This Flea had her whipped until he
tired, but without avail He then stripped her COM
plssey naked and tied her up In the field IN the hot
until hfs was extinct Sometimes these poor wresches
sndeavor gain respite from their tormens ~ hiding
themselves In the hills aubsisng on what wild fruits
they can obtain strict search n always made fos
ch and they subjected 70 the most puniah
nnent a an example 10 others. Sometimes those who