The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1906-01-10
MADE SLAVES.
Ugly Traffic in Chinese Laborers
For South Africa.
WILL WORK IN MINES

Herded Like Cattle. The Contractors
Furnish Them to the Mine Workers
and They Belong To Their Enc
ploys es, Body and Soul.
Sent to Mines.
A letter from Washington to The
Charleston Post says an interesting
story has just reached this country
concerning the traffic in Chinese
collies in the mines of the Transvaal.
The methods of collecting, separating
and shipping the coolies is fully de-
scribed and the whole treatment of
them resembles the selection of cat.
tie for the great slaughter houses
more than of human beings. Duriug
the last year the industry" as it is
called grew to large proportions.
White labor, since the close Of the
South African war has besn found in.
sufficient for the purposes of mining
gold in the Transvaal, and conse
quently # has been necessary to ex-
port thousands Of coolies to that place.
The primary work Of collecting the
coolies Is begun by missionary doctors,
at the expense of the contractors. The
accepted coolies are first marched to
the nearest railroad station and for
warded to the Shipping point. Being
taken from the trains they are placed
in barracks Of diff aren't sizes, usually
large enough, however to aecommo.
date from three to four hundred Chi
nese. Each is then stripped and
examined by the doctors, including
tests for eyesight and hearing. Those
accepted pass into large tank OF
warm water and are there scrubbed
with soap bv other coolies. They are
then vaccinated photographed and
their Identification cards written up.
on.
A number Is hung about their
necks, and they are ushered again
into another compound until the next
TRANSPORT sails. 1t is said that they
are here furnished with q copy Of the
contract they are to sign both in
Chinese and in English. 1t is even
claimed that the coolies are told what
the contract means, where they are
going, the wages they are to receive,
ETC., but this is seriously doubted.
Few coolies nave enorgh INTELLECT to
understand a contract even should 1t
be read to them. Opium and Chi
nese liquor are now denied him,
though ne may have all the rice and
tea his stomach Is capable OF holding
The day before shipping, the coolies
are taken in lots OF ten to the Office
of tho Chinese protector for final eX-
animation. Here they are not only
given another severe physical test,
but are asked many questions In the
endeavor to ascertain whether or not
the heathern understands fully where
he it going and what ne Is expected
to do after getting there.
In large hall stand or squat some
two hundred coolies in rows along the
wall. Their only clothing Is a piece
of string and paper tag. II passed
up as being all rigot, they are given
another wash aud are then given
clean clothes, shoes, belts, socks.
straw hats, ETC., and reappear in
dark blue uniforms. The paper or
temporary tag which has heretofore
been hanging around the coolies neck
is now exchanged for permanent
lead one with a number on 1t. He
has no name, hereafter a number.
This lead tag becomes as nuc a part
of hlm as h1s fager or any oJher sec.
tion Of his antony.
He is now given s3S (MexicaD) two
months pay, and 80 bonus, and asked
again If he prefers to return home or
retain the silver. The answer Is In
variably in favor of the silver. HaV-
ing decided to retain the money in eX-
change for tag with a number on it
he pushes it into a tin pan, which
later serve him for his rice bowl, bis
washpan, and for many other use to
which he may wish to put it. At this
point the c1oly belongs to the con
tractor soul and BODY. He is now
placed in a kind OF jail, and here he
bids farewell TO his rami!y and cred !
itors. He receives his kit bag con-
tainiug clothing. a blanket, a tin cup
and q bamboo pillow, aud Is now lea'
dy to take his place In the gold mines
OF the Transvaal.
Tne first shipment Of c)olieI was
made in July, 1904, and the toJal
number of shipments from eli ports to
the present time IS twenty nine, The
total rumber Of coolies shipped from
all parts Of Cuina is $4,000. The
deaths have been comparatively few.
Contractors are making many Chou
sands of dollars annually out OF this
slave trailic, and as will be seen from
The numerous physical tests TO Wnlch
the coolies are put, they endeavor to
transport only what are 'nsldered
good risks. On the others Lney would
undoubtedly lCSe money.
Picked up aL Sea.