New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-07-03
CHINESE PLANTATION HANDS
Arrival on the Great Republic
Something About Them

Something About Them
The steamer Great Republic arrived herr
on Thursday from St. Louis. She brough
one huHdred and forty-one Chinese laborers
who came under q contract to work on {
sugar plantation, short distance above
the city. The Chinese were not, however
landed at our levee, but disembarked at the
Merrill sugar plantation, for which thell
services have been engaged. This company
of laborers came under the charge OF MIR.
F. W. Gardner, of San Francisco, who
is regularly engaged in the enterprise
of supplying Chinese labor TO any
portion of the Southern country, Tor
AGRICULTURAL or other purposes. The
body Of emigrants here spoken OF, were
engaged at San Francisco, whence they
started for Omaha, Nebraska, from which
place they came down the Missouri river to
a.. I,ouis. and there were embarked on the
steamer Great Republic for New Orleans.
Il will be seen then that these men were not
broueht from China a la Coolie, but were
already in the United States, each of his
own enterprise, and each was contracted
with the same as laborers of any other ma
tionality.
These laborers have, Of course, worked in
California for some considerable time, and
are therefore somewhat informed of the
systems of labor as pursued in this country.
Through the courtesy of Mr.. Gardner. we
were given an opportunity to visit and in
spect these newly-arrived laborers at the
plantation where they are 20 be located. This
opportunity was eagerly embraced, as we
we're anxious to compare the newcomers
with the body of Chinese immigrants who
arrived here on the barque Vile de St. Lo,
in the beginning of last month; and We
wished to do this more especially as the
men had been for some time in the country
previously to their present engagement. d.
We arrived at the place where they are
stationed at the season Of the evening meal,
where we found them busily engaged in dis.
cussing views by means of the historic chop
sticks. Their description of food was rather
different from that we witnessed on board
the Vile de St. Leo, where they used rice
and tea. These men have caught SO much
of American name rs that animal food fol ms
the staple of their nutriment. Seated or
souatted in groups of five or six around q
species OF table, eXtempOriZed by placing a
piece of board on four bricks, each man held
in his right hand pannikin filled in some
cases with hashed meat, and in some cases
with rice, while the two chop-sticks were
held between two fingers Of the left hand,
and so managed as 10 open and shut like q
pair of pincers, the feeder conveying his
food from hand to mouth by this
means with q dexterity worthy of
first cass professor OF legerde-
main. The chopsticks are simply two
sticks of wood. about as thick as lead
pencil aud about seven inches long. Aman
unused to them might become very hungry
before he learned to manipulate them with
proper effect.
The body Of labcrers we here speak of
differed very materially from the company
that came on the Vile de St Lo, being mucn
stouter aud heavier meu-in fact, rs robust
as the average OF Americans, and with the
appearance of as much muscular strength.
Withal, their habits are temperate 60
that their capacity for continuous labor
NAV be relied on. We were informed by
the superintendent of their labor, that they
Yesterday gave most satisfactory specimen
of what they could do and how they could
do it, in unloading a cargo of bricks in
an incredibly short time.
Although with the exception of their in
terpreter, thR understand no other Ian.
guage than Chinese, yet it seems to be no
impediment to their efficiency as workmen.
They readily and accutely apprehend what
is required of them. and they do it willingly.
The exception above mentioned is the in
terpreter. His name is Lee Fook Wing.
He wrote it by request in English and Chi
nese. Each word in the latter is repre-.
sented by single, though complicated char.
acter, good idea of which can be had by
inspecting any tea chest. He informs us
that he is Christian of the Baptist denom-
nation, and is licensed to preach. He said
that he is in the nabi. of preaching to his
countrymen; but it is rather slow busi-
ness. As he expressed it, "muchee preach
makum little good"
This body of Chinese all have the ap-
pearanCe of good, firm health. We were
informed that each man was submitted to
full medical inspection before being en-
gagged. At the time of our VISIT there was
present a Chinaman who has lived for some
months in New Orleans, and he informed US
that the climate Of that portion of China
HueI0 LuSSC LhCA lANCN ID NCAJ W
that Of Louisiana, so that danger OF accli-
mating sickness is to & great extent OBJ.
waited.
From the time of their departure from
San Francisco to their arrival near New Or
leans, none died from sickness, and but one
death occurred from accident. This was at
the mouth of White river, where three of
the Cinnamon, in violation of orders, went
into the river to bathe, and one was
L., a., Co. ~ H.
mad proved fruitless, and as the steamer
was about to resume her voyage, the coun-
trymen of the poor fellow leaned over the
side, and simultaneously raised a most ap-
palling yell, as if to call his attention to
what they were about to 90, and then threw
erboard his clothing. hat, boots and bag ]
a quantity of Chinese money |
(cash). This was evidently a species of
funeral ceremony, and was probably In
tended TO enable the drowned man to take
his departure for the next world with a
proper outfit.
This new arrival of Cinnamon will give |
an observer an idea of Chinese muscle, |
different from what We gathered from a |
visit to the bark Vile de st. Lo, which |
brought the former company. For these |
nen, although they dress in short gown |
and petticoat style, and wear the enor. !
mousy long pig tail, frequently wound |
around the Dack OIL the mead la chlgnOn,
show a greater indication of masculine char |
acter in facial expression as well as in |
.hews and sinews.
The gentleman who has engaged the SER
vices of these laborers is very sanguine as
10 tho result, and certainly the enterprise |
ooks promising. It may be proper to state |
hat Mr.. Merrill engaged these laborers. not |
rom deprecated estimate OF the qualities
If other classes of laborers, but from con- |
yiction that large additional supply Of Ia
,or is needed to develop the resources Of the
Southern country.
Gentiemen who aye interested in the nnes