, 1874-09-12

lowed to go to French colonies where this su-
p~ervisiOn cannot be exercised, but, bad as is the
position of the coolie in Cayenne, emigration to
the French colonies has never been subject to
the odium which has attached to the Macao
traffic. For the sake of all our professions and
protests on behalf Of humanity, and for the
preservation of thousands of coolies from a
worse fate than even starvation in Bengal, it
is most earnestly to be hoped, or rather it is
confidently believed, that the proposals for emil
grafton from India to Peru will meet with the
reception they so eminently deserve"
A letter has appeared in the Times, signed
j. G.. who describes himself as having lived
for four years in the West Indies, recommend
ing that the East African slaves which fall into
the hands of the British Government shall be
sent to the West India colonies. The same idea
was advocated in this column some time ago,
and it is believed that steps were taken to car
ry it out, but the people were found to be so
enfeebIed by disease, and in other respects so
worthless, that the plan was abandoned. But
there can be no objection to its being revived,
ifJ. G. will undertake that only the proper
class of people shall be sent to the West In
dies.
The special correspondent of the Times in
Calcutta, reviewing the Indian famine, makes
a very valuable contribution to the literature
of the emigration question. The regulation re-
ferred to of putting emigrant ships into dry
dock at Calcutta, is at once unnecessary, vex-
atiouS, and expensive. It increases the rate OF
passage money for the coolies, and adds to the
heavy general expense Of migration, as borne
by the planter in the West Indies. The sub
iect is so important, and the remarks OF the
special correspondent SO pertinent, that they
may be quoted here. The remark that there
are no return emigrants from the French COLO
MES is very significant. The correspondent
says:-
"There is q mercantile subject which has
come under nv notice, and which is we'll worth
q few remarks. The attention of your readers
has frequently been called to the subject OF
coolie emigration from India to the British and
French colonies. Whea the o~olOnists were al
lowed to engage coolies it became necessary
to adopt stringent precautions to prevent the
engagements from becoming q new form OF
slave trade. SO far all was we'll, and there
cannot be a doubt that the emigration has been
one of the most notable of the new impulses at
work in India for breaking through stagnant
prejudices. Coolies have returned quite COM
monty with as much as 200I. each, to see their
friends and make new engagements. Of course
they also come back with quickened intellects.
There is a ten years man now in the depot
at Calcutta waiting for the next vessel to
Demerara, who came home after his last en-
gagement with ,500L.-1 made quite sure OF
the figures. He has been in the depot about
six weeks, buying and making up jewelry
for sale in the colonies. In fact, he is
now in a fair way of becoming a merchant.
But, be it observed, there are no cases of re-
turn from the French colonies. Our rules are
strict as to the engagement, but here our pow
ers end, and there appears to be virtually a
closed door against return. When a trade Is
50 important it is obvious that it ought not to
be fettered by any vexalious restrictions, and
some of the first mercantile houses of Calcutta
are complaining, and | believe are about to
petition the Lieut. Governor Of Bengal against
a decision of his predecessor to the effect that
every vessel taking coolie emigrants from Gal
cutta must first be put in dry dock. The rule
is absolute. No matter how new the vessel
no matter what her class may be as q sea-going
ship, into dock she must go, at a cost, perhaps,
of from 2OOL. to 3O0I, and of injury from the
strain. Surely this is a real hardship : The
merchants also complain that they are in all
matters Of survey at the mercy of one man.,
who has been known to be absent when a ves-
sci was ready for survey, and to detain her
for several days. They ask for three men
instead Of one. This is the purport of the com
plant made or to be made to the Lieut.-Go-
vernon"