The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1869-09-11
The ship .Ca,lno, aud her Coolies.

Mr.. EDITOR AS there has been some discussion
with respect to the case of the coolie ship Cai0o,
which ship lately touched at this port, and also an
evident disposition on the part of some TO throw dis
credit on statements concerning that case made by
yourself editorially, 1 hereby furnish you with the
following, of which you may make such use as you
shall see fit.
In pursuance of my duties as the regular CORES
pendent of a foreign paper, which duties l have
now endeavored faithfully to fulfill for more than a
year, I went ON board the ship CaHao, two days
after her arrival. The fact that the United States
Government had deemed it right to make the traffic
in which this ship was engaged an illegal one for
American vessels, and only that the coolie question is
attaining such Importance in the estimation of the
civilized world, made it n matter of interest to have
an opportunity for judging from personal observa-
ton.
1t was about 10 4. NJ. when l went on board. AS
the Captain was below ut breakfast, L took no pains
to seek an Introduction, but walked forward to see
whatever might be seen. A heavy iron barricade,
about seven feet in height, extended across at the
break of the deck. AT each of the two gates in this
stood q guard, one with n bayonet, the other l think
with a ~cutlass, carefully fastening the gate every
time any person had occasion to pass through. A
couple OF 6-pounder cannon or thereabouts, were
pointed forward, in range of each passage-way also
q good supply of arms were in readiness at the COM
p~anion-way, including a dozen lanees or spears. L
did not inquire whether the cannon were loaded, as
on a like previous occasion | have found them, not
| only loaded, but with matches kept burning in ready
reach. There was the usual heavy iron grating over
the hatchway.
Breakfast was being distributed to the coolies. This APP
peared to be of good quantity and quality, there being over
sixty baskets of clean rice, and each basket accompanied with
a dish of meat and potatoes, and also of greens.
The guard seemed communicative, and, as he could talk in
telligible English, furnished the following The ships name
was - Number One" OF some Central American State, he did
not know which, nor did he know the Captains name. That
there were $50 coolies on hoard, bound TO Peru, that not long
after they left port, one day, about noon, they attempted to
take the ship. A general melee ensued, one cooiie. the leader,
was killed, and n number severely wounded. There were
which. The ships carpenter afterwards made precisely the
same statements, including that respecting the ships name.
After breakfast a large number of cOoiieS came on deck. A
gang was brought from forward, a large proportion OF whom
were in irons About a dozen, wE appeared like Malays,
Were made to promenade the deck, in double file and in pairs
as they We're chained, and the rest set TO securing with ashes
the metal sheathing along inside the rail. Several had ugly
looking wounds. and some had exposed to view large patches OF
raw flesh on the hips. The carpenter said they had been
overseers were moving around, each provided with a short
double and knOt;eI piece of rope. TlSre were about twenty
of these overseers. l saw coolies struck with the fist several
times.
The accommodations below were apparently ample, though
crowded, and heater than has formerly been the case. Some of
the coolies seemed emaciated, but most were in good condition.
with the usual scantiness of clothing, and the usual proportion
of desperate looking ones among them.
The above is a dispassioned and correct account Of personal
observation.
The surroundings and circumstances did not seem very sug-
gestive of q voluntary and free emigration but others may
perhaps think differently. CURTIS J. LYONS.
Honolulu. Sept. 10, 1869.