, 1872-10-23

VI supply dh0 CAAQUO WOAC dLlONO0 v
operate without interference. But this
immigration was in its principle a tempo
rary %solourn, not a permanent transterence
OF home. A return passage was provided
gratis for all East Indian immigrants who
had resided ten years in the colony, and
served one five years. indenture; and the
Chinese, altho' their return passage was
not paid, were free to 60 at the end Of ten
years, and they were VIGOROUSLY given to
returning to their homes from other places.
These facts, however, were of less imp0r-
lance than they might at first seem. At
the present time less than $4,000 out OF
1877 900 Indians had claimed a return pas
sage, while the number of them who had
already spent ten years ii the colony must
amount by this time to 40 900 at least.
The diminution in the number of applica-
tions for a return passage in the last year
or two was traceable to the opening OF
Crown lands and the offer of allotments to
coolies in exchange for their right Of re-
turn. Thus in Trinidad, 285 time expired
immigrants had already received allot-
ments, and So others had purchased 9l0
acres at a stipulated price. The conse-
quent saving to the colony already exceed
ed A, OOOL. The lead of Trinidad was to
be followed shortly by Guiana and ia
maica. 1t was worthy remark that the
planters, who originally opposed the
scheme, fearing lest the coolies, like the
negroes, should withdraw from plantation
labour, now desired to have coolie villages
in their neighbourhood, finding that the
free labourers SO settled were glad to work
for them. 1t was not yet possible to an
swer the question Of the increase Of the
Asiatic population by statistics. The NOR
taIity, for the first ten years was trl5httul
the Commissioners lately in Guiana estl-
mated that it reached 10 per cent. per an
mum. In 1851 one-third OF the whole
number introduced within six years were
already dead. The improved regulations
ofthe passage, however, and the very great
efforts of the planters and Colonial Govern
ments, had brought down the mortality to
a mere fraction of the former death-rate.
In Guiana and Trinidad it huctuated be-
tween 3 and 4 per cent. An important
Government department was charged with
the supervision of all matters in which the
interests of the coolies were effected. a
special labour law, on which great pains
had been spent, was administered by stl-
|pendiary magistrates, in order to secure
them work at fair wages. Medical aid
was provided gratuitously, and no estate
was without its hospital. After 20 years
of this improved and still improving sys-
tenn, we found in Guiana that, Of a popu-
lation of 200, 900, one-tourth, or $4,000,
were immigrants from Asia, while 5000
more were children of those immigrants,
called Creole coolies in the colony. Ii
Trinidad of a population of 10000, there
were 2 1000 immigrants, and $500 Creole
coolies, making 10000 in all. The female
sex was as yet sadly deficient in numbers.
The Colonial Office insisted on a minimum
of 40 to every 100 males who were recruit
ted, and would increase the proportion
but for the extreme difficulty ofmaking up
the qnota without resorting to women ct
a character likely to neutralize all the be-
nefts intended by their introduction. At
the present time there were in Guiana
women in the proportion of42.2l to every
100 males, showing that the equalizing IN
nuence of the rising generation was begin
ming to tell. After in%stituting an interest
ing comparison of the relative working
qualities of the Coolies and Negroes, he
concluded by saying that he was inclined
though not without hesitation, to stake bis
~ .uo ~ +bo norponpOt