New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-02-07
THE CUBAN COOLIB TRADE.

CHINESE COMMISSION APPOINTED TO INVESTIGATE
ALLEGED ABUsRs-ARmvAL or ONE OF THB
COMMISSIONERS IN CITY.
A Commission recently appointed by the
Chinese Government to investigate the charges OF out
upon Chinese coolies employed In the Island Of
Cuba 10 now on its way from Canton 10 Havana, and
OF its principal members already reached this
city, He is stopping at tho Brevoort House, where he
visited by a TRIBUNE reporter yesterday. Lin
Chinguan OF Canton has evidently received q
much better education than the majority OF
his counrymen He speaks the English Ian
guage with accuracy and great fuency.
He Is apparently about 46 years Of age, and Is
short and thick-set His head Is large and face
round having what lighter hue than that OF most
OF countrymenf His eyes also larger, and have
lost the almond form OF the eye OF the typical China
man. He dressed 10 O loose, flowing robe, made OF
silk OF a drsb color On his head tghtfttng cap,
and his feet incased IN sandals with thick aud
clumsy wooden soes. From him the following particu-
lars learned concerning the Commission and Its
mission:
For several months unusually many complaints have
been made 10 the Chinese Government OF the abuses
inflicted upon the coolies in Cuba The coOlie agents
arriving in China offer 10 high for laborers
and that the which amount TO from IS to -
per month, shall be paid every thirty days. Poor
Cinnamon eagerly accept OF this opportunity
to obtain employment, and embark for distant
bnOrcb. OB arriving III u IOTtlGn lhuu bnty bo
Of at the mercy Of their masters, though t 10
said at tho present day these in most local
tiles humane and honorable In their dealings with their
employees At the end OF five years labor the coolie is
entitled 10 his freedom 1t has been alleged that the
Cuban masters violate their agreement; that they
abuse their coolies deprive them Of their wages and
fuse 70 ret them at liberty. Accordingly early In De-
cember the Inspector General of Customs having su-
thorty from tho Emperor of China, appointed the
81 IN AZ no Odn
investigation of the alleged outrsges Lin Chm
guam Of Canton, A. Huber OF Tien Tsin, II. Rubry
OF Swallow. and J. Mcpherson OF Hsnkow
On their arrival in this country they were to be Joined
by the Chinese Commissioners already here, Chen Ian
Pin OF Hartford and Chen Lai Bun OF Springfield The
entire party proceed at once TO Havana, The
three first mentioned persons sailed from Canton on
Dec IT, and arrived at San Francisco Jan 49, There
they separated temporarily Lin Chinguan coming d.
recty TO this city where he expects TO be joined by his
com panons Feb. a. Huber and Rubry are making a
hssty tour through Canada, and Mcpherson Will
arrive from Europe by steamer In few
days. The Commissioners expect TO sail for
Havana Feb. Is They propose to learn
all the facts possible through personal interviews,
respecting the alleged horrors OF the cooe trade. They
are still undecided whether visit the interior OF
the island and will be governed in their decision by the
political condition in which they may find It, They de-
sire TO remain about months the island. they
able visit its interior otherwise they will return
TO New York within 80 days.
In reply 90 inquiries concerning the present extent OF
the cooe trade China Lin Chnguan stated that the
trif1c present confined almost entirely TO the
port OF Macao. Tho kidnapping OF coolies was for the
most part OF kidnapping still not
uncommon but 1t prevailed to no such alarming extent
as In former years. The Kidnapping probably
wholly confined to Macao, which being Portuguese
settlement without the jurisdiction OF the
Chinese authorities AT Canton, where kidnapping
once carried 10 such terrible extent
it is now unknown. The authorities have put end
g. depart from that port except OF their
free WILL Each vessel outward bound IS board ed
by agent OF the Government who the
ment OF every one on board II any emigrant wishes to
make complaints opportunity IS thus given. After
thus embarkug the coolies are not allowed 20
20 on shore. One OF the most frequent forms
OF swindng In former years is thus avoided.
IL was formerly the for any persons wishing
embark appear before agent on shore and make
known their wishes Meantime before the vessel sailed,
d number OF such persons would rehnqmsh their pur,
pose and equal number OF kidnapped natives would
substituted. II is said that there Is possible
opportunity OF kidnapping the natives m the vicinity Of
Canton. Most OF the coolies 20 CUBA and Peru while
them 20 NewOrleans. Those who enter the latter
port wei treated aud the Peruvian masters very
humane From the port OF Macao 10 shipoads OF 700
800 coolies each depart every year. Many other
natives or COURSE depart as emlRrants from various
ports paying their passage, an subsequently
empio we'd in a similar coolies Many seek
the British settlements. The emigration. however,
OF the past year has fallen far short Of that OF former
The emigration 10 San Francisco Is probably
lesa by per cent than in former years "A many
1000 Cinnamon have been known 70 take passage on
single steamer, but the vessel which brought the
Commissioners to San Francisco there not more
than $50. The number returning TO their native land
IL probably no greater this year than heretofore.
Empire The present Emperor. Tung Chlh. mas now
been in power for period Of u years, although only
crowned recently No rebellion or serious revolt OF any
kind has occurred during the year Just closed
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