The Hawaiian gazette., 1878-02-13
Emigration of Chinese to Peru.

In our notice of the pioneer ship of the new
line of steamers plying between Hongkong
and Callao, in our issue of last week, we gave
the simple announcement of the fact that such
a line has been inaugurated. We find by
"The China Mail " of January 18th, that the
new line has been put on between China and
Callao, in Pursuance of treaty stipulations
between the two countries interested, and that
the steamers were intended for carrying coolie
emigrants from China to Peru, where laborers
are wanted. The emigration of coolies from
China to Peru, had been stopped altogether,
by the Interference of the British Government,
in consequence of the reports that have reach
ed the latter country of the cruel treatment of
the coolies, by the overseers on the plantations
of Peru. By the new treaties, between Peru
on the one hand and China and England on
the other, the most ample guarantees of good
treatment of coolies, going to Peru in future,
has been secured to the satisfaction of all the
high contracting parties. 1t is therefore fair
to presume that the emigration from China to
Peru, of large numbers of coolies will follow.
and the new line of steamships, will have
plenty to do in transporting them. This new
line therefore, is emphatically an eInigrant
line. 1t is well known fact that for years,
the Government of Peru has been making
great efforts to induce emigration to the lat
ter country, but owing to adverse circum-
stances. among which was the interference of
the British authorities at Hongkong, as before
stated, the scheme failed. The necessity of
obtaining coolie laborers to develop the vast
resources of Peru, have induced parties to in
vest the necessary funds in the purchase of
ships of large carrying capacity, for the trade
between Hongkong and Peru. This new COM
mercial enterprise is no longer matter of
secrecy; but has been fully explained in the
China newspapers now before us. The new
line of ships are to make the run from Hong
kongto Callao direct, only touching at Honolulu
each way. 1t will be monthly line, like the
San Francisco and Australian line now run
ming between the American Coast and the
Colonies This new line receives a large
subsidy from the Peruvian Government, in
The Perusia is sailing under the Belgian flag
at present, which we are unable to ex-
plain. The China mail of the 2Ist of January
last concludes long article on the new line
in the following language:
$50 far as Hongkong is concerned there is
no doubt that, independent of the considera-
tions as to security mentioned above, the
establishment of the proposed line with its
headquarters in this Colony would be bene-
fit to Hongkong in commercial point of view.
We are convinced that Chinese emigration is
good thing, especially to particular fields of
usefulness such as those in Peru, where no
competitive or rival animosities can be raised,
as in California or Australia. 1t is only
reasonable, therefore, that this newly-inaugu-
rated enterprise should obtain fair trial. On
the face of it, there would seem to be every
chance of success and of this it is all the
more deserving because, so far as its Hong
kong promoters are concerned, we believe it
will only be so by maintaining an honest and
irreproachable character"