Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-05-08

Some recent English publications give addi-
tional details of the cruel traffic in human beings
carried on by Eugishmcn in English vessels for
supplying with laborers, who are slaves in all
but the name, English planters in Queensland
and the FIJI islands, The history of this trade
is derived from official papers reported to parlia-
ment last summer, a narrative prepared by an
English naval commander who had recently
served in the south seas, the reports of the New
He6ridcs mission and some other sources. Many
of the facts are not new; from time to time dur
ing the last nine years statements have appeared
Of the growth Of a system practically identical
with slavery on some of the British dependen-
cies in that part of the world, and the rapid
growth of trade in slaves to meet the constant
~ growing demand for laborers TO cul-
tvate the plantations Of Queensland and
Fiji The first organized attempt TO
kidnap and make slaves of the inhab-
itants of the South Pacific islands was
made in the interest of South American CAPT
talists. Seven vessels fitted out at Callao with all
the appliances of the old savers and oficered by
Spaniards, secured from various islands more
than two thousand persons and disposed of them
among the planters Of Chill and Peru. But the
speculation was disastrous. Many of the
captives died on the voyage from confinement
and III usage and after landing the climate
proved very unwholesome to them. Accus-
toned to the warm, moist airs of the South
Pacific they couldnot bear the cold night winds
which sweep down from the Cordilleras. Fever
anddysentery carried off great numbers of them,
and when the circumstances of the French and
ENGLISH iuduaad fha
authorities to interfere and compel the surren-
der OF the wretched captves, less than forty per
cent survived to return TO their homeJ
EngIand's indignant philanthropy offered
prompt remonstrance against cruelty from |
which Peruvians were to profit and that traffic |
seems to have been abandoned without an.
other trial; but in the same year, 1868, Capt
Townes, who had large estate in Queensland,
conceived the idea OF procuring natives from
the islands to work on his land. The first at
tempt seems to have been conducted fairly
enough, as fairly at least, as could have been
expected, when the contracting parties were so
uncqually matched in Intelligence, and the
power of enforcing their respective views of
their agreement. The vessel employed is said
to have been properly fitted to transport its
human cargo in reasonable comfort; fair wages
were promised, and a circular letter was adj
dressed to such missionaries as the vessel might
fall in with, asking their cooperation, and |
promising fair treatment to the people who might |
come. SXty-ive laborers were secured They were |
all understood to be volunteers, and are said to
have been humanely treated, duly paid and sent
home at the expiration of their contract. But
the example was contagious; the colonists found
that such labor so compensated was profitable
and in adopting Captain Towne's plan of pro- |
curing laborers they did not always initiate hIs |
humanity and justice in dealing with them.
Within four years about one Thousand islanders
had been introduced into Queensland, and the
importation of them had become a recognized
branch Of traffic. Masters of vessels went out
at their own risk, picked up their cargo when
and where they could find it, and managed their
business TO suit themselves, without inspection
and without control, their only object being to
bring in the greatest number possible, and dis
pose of them TO the purchasers who would pay
the highest price for the trouble and risk in
yoyed in procuring them.
The English residents in FIJI were not long in
taking the hint 1t was discovered that the eli
mate and soil of those islands were favorable
for the culture of cotton, and that with album.
daut and cheap labor it could be made very
profitable Cotton was the principal agent in
making slavery in the United States strong and
aggressive, and it also is responsible for the
origin and growth Of the slave system of Fiji.
hheh iaporers could be kidnapped and brought
" market al the cost of ten pounds sterling a |
Aeau' iaoor was cheap enough, and the ignorant
natVes' without protection of law or power TO |
assert their own rights, were treated pretty |
much as acknowledged slaves have been treated |
elsewhere. The British and colonial authori. |
ties, though they permitted this system |
to grow up unchecked, were more or |
less uneasy about il. Now and ,ber a
jealous official, solicitous for the national honor
or the rights Of the victims Of the atroc,ons
traffic, would make his easy going associates
uncomfortable by revealing some wrongs and
protesting against their continuance The facts
were not infinitely known, bat the character of
the meU engaged in the business and the temp.
tations TO which they were exposed were well
enough understood to suggest all that close in
vestigation would reveal But the men engaged
in the cultivation, which slavery made profitable,
were rich and growing richer; their business
was rapidly advancing the growth and prosperi-
ty Of the colonies where it dourisbed. To inter
fore with 1t was to endanger British interests
and British supremacy in the South Pacific, and
consequently il was touched, If ID all, as lightly
as possible.
Inc laoorers were obtained mostly from the
New hebrides group Of islands living 10 the
west Of FIJI and northeast Of New Caledonia
Owing 10 numerous Complaints of abuses. the
British commodore on the Australian s,ot,on in
1852 dispatched Captain Palmer in the Rosario
70 cruise among these islands aud Fiii and r..
port upon the subject. From his report groa,
many startling facts were learned. Missionarios
and chiefs made the same complaints, that tho
people were stolen away, after being sometimes
enticed o. board by offers Of presents, and some.
times at;aobed On land or in their canoes,