The Hawaiian gazette., 1868-10-21

vantageops in their estimation. Wherever
one goes now through the Islands, he may
dnd Cinnamon owning small pieces OF land
or engaged In trading. or otherwise follow
ing some vocation which either does, or he
hopes win pay him literally. Hehas married
with the Hawaiian women, adopted the Ian
guage of the country, and feels himself un-
tramelled TO make his own way in the strife
for existence and support with those around
him.
1t would be folly to expect that every i'm
migrant should prove perfectly honest, in
dustrious and true 1t is not so, whether
from the East or West Many diseontented,
vicious and unthrifty men at home are among
the first to embrace the chance to leave their
location and seek change, even through ex-
pected hardships. This class are the most
ready to migrate, are usually the first that
present themselves for transportation and
removal. Hence, among the Chinese that
come hither, not every one has become
good and efficient laborer, or has proved him
self valuable addition to our population;
nor would 1t be possible TO make such out of
the black sheep under the most favorable cir
cumstances and conditions. Weare satisfied,
that though brought under contracts of labor,
the majority of these Chinese have improved
their condition by the change, and moreover,
are quite ready to admit it, as they in reality
are doing all the time by their continued res
idence In the islands.
Instances might be multiplied, and they
are easy to be seen by those who choose to re-
member and compare the arrival and service
of some of these bonded laborers in the past,
with their present condition.
There is now laboring as religious teach
er and colporteur, employed by religious
association of this country, Chinaman who
faithfully served out his contract to labor.
He has embraced Christianity and become
happy medium of conveying Christian in-
struction to his fellow-countrymen here.
Another, who served out his time in drug
store, SO applied himself to the study of the
English language and the gaining an insight
into medical practice and the use of medi-
cines, that when, after remaining on the
islands for time, he returned TO Hong Kong,
he was twice employed to make the voyage
to the West Indies as doctor of emigrant
ships, for which service he not only received
good pay, but honorable testimonials to his
skill and success in the care of the Chinese
under his supervision. He always retained
pleasant remembrance Of Honolulu, and
looked upon his residence here as the foun-
dation of his good fortune.
Another, who still lives among us, was
most turbulent and uneasy, aud finally fin
ished out his contract in the prison gang.
He was long believed to be worthless la
borer, but when his prison term was out, he
quickly discovered that honest and indus
trious Chinese need desire no better locality.
than here. He became a gardener, and is
still hawking his garden truck through the
town. Some people were surprised, not long
since, to see house knocked down to him
at auction for 81 300.
Two brothers, whose contracts were served
out as fellow servants in a private family,
became owners Of land and houses, before
their time was up, and by their industry
since, have made themselves quite indie
pendent of service, as they have land of their
own that will support them. One of them
has Hawaiian wife and several children,
whose education the father seems quite as
desirous should be sound, as any other father
in our midst
Chinese, who have served their contracts
with mechanics, and in shops, have been
made fair workmen, and can command larger
wages than they ever dreamed of in their
boyhood homes.
There is no lack of opportunities here for
the laboring class of immigrants to improve
their condition. 1t is this facility which
keeps the demand for rude field labor un-
filed, although many laborers have been in
troduced to meet it. The cheapness of land,
the ease of making living by the petty in
dustries; by becoming domestic servants, or
by small trading, draws them away to those
employment which are less irksome, and
which pays them better in proportion to the
exertion. And such must be the case until
our circumstances shall make it more ai-
vantageous for agricultural laborers to labor
for stipulated wages, than to work on their
own account.
The Chinese are not averse to renewing
their service In the fields Some two years
since, a cook or house-servant could hardly
be got in the town, and wages rose one to
two dollars more a-week. The Cinnamon
had discovered that at the then town rates,
they could labor in the country and save more
money than by remaining at domestic service.
With them, as with all workers, the best pay
will engage their labor
We state the proposition, without reserve,
that the Chinese, or other bonded laborers,
that have been, or may be, introduced here,
are not subjected TO any peculiar or grievous
hardships. There is agricultural work in
abundance that needs doing, and it is be-
cause the lighter employments pay the best
wages, that the rougher and ruder kind
constantly lacks hands for its performance.
That can not be a severe condition for labor
ers, where well-devised laws guard their
rights Will eunder contract-and only such
an instrument can bind them to the less
paying plantation field work.
The Asiatic finds himself with so many
chances of lazy, or to him, luxurious living
at small cost in the way of work, that the only