Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-08-04

arc very dirty about their homes.
though among the higher class East
Indians the homes are kept very clean.
These usually are painted white. in
side and out, and are kept in very
good order and free from dirt by the
women. who seem to take considerable
pride In working about the house.
PAY IS SMALL. nut
GOODS VERY CHEAP
Among the coolies. though the aver
age pay of the East Indian Is less than
SO cents Il day, the food problem is not
a serious one. They can afford little
food. but by nature they are not heavy
eaters. requiring much less for their
meals than do the negroes of this
island Fish. which the coolies arc able
to buy very cheap In Trinidad: ana
fruit. which also is plentiful. together
with rice and corn, furnish the chief
food for this race. Numerous markets
are established each day on the roads
near the coolie villages. and here many
interesting sights are to be observed
II is. very common TO witness cool.c
and an old negro woman pcddler argu-
ing very earnestly over the price asked
for a FISH or couple OF bananas And
it is very probable tina; the price asked
for the entire intended purchase is Lu,
or cents; but pennies count for
much in the life of the East Indian. ana
II is with much reluctance that the
COOlle paTtS with even Il penny,
The indcnture system of Trinidad
was inaugurated-and is still in exist
cnce-bccause OF the cheapncss of the
coolie labor. But II is recorded that
many OF the East Indians. earning as
little as they do. frequently return to
their native land with enough MONEY
saved TO keep them in luxury for the
remainder OF their life. Some OF the
more crafty and cunning OF the coolies
have gone back to India with as much
a $4,000. But this money. however
was not saved from the meager war.
paid to the hcld hand; IL probably was
gained through lending money: estab-
fishing ii string Of stores. or making
jcwclry TO sell 10 the coolies for their
wives. daughters and sisters.
Many Of the coolies both indcnturoh
and unindentured. have been progress
sive enough to cultivate small rice
fields and raise few head OF cattle
in addition 10 doing their work under
the planters. This class has been able
TO advance quite rapidly and to better
its living conditions u great deal /,
il the situation among this class Of
coolies that has led the planters TO
assert that. with living conditions over
all tho world a serious problem as a
result OF the war. the East Indian OF
Trinidad is very fortunate indeed he
cause he is assured fun protection and
the best wing nc is accustomed TO .o-
MEN SERVE UNDER
iNDENTURE SYSTEM
Orig inally the indcn,ure period for
the cool!e was three years; this hAs
been changed to nve years, and the i'm
migrant may rcindenturc himself FOR
another ivc years after serving his nrst
term. or, II h. chooses. he uay he
returned TO Europe, the planters or
government paying part Of the cost OF
the trip to-day. whereas formerly
when tho coolic received less pay III.
entire expense OF the Journey was do
!rdyed by tho employers Thousands
OF coolies. however. after serving their
nre or ten years. choose to remain IN
Trinidad. so that the number ot In
dians here who are not inden,ur"d e%-
ceeds that Of those who arc under the
hvc-year contract.
Hundreds OF coolies have no desire
TO return to conEcste;. India. for the
reason that they live under better con.
ditons here than In their own uoun-
Try, ana have greater chances 10 adj
vance. Many hundreds Of them oros7sr
greatly lere--prosper b. the standards
o! progress which they acccp, as their
own; and they are much better of than
they probably would be in their home
country. Hundreds OF others. wh!,c
not wishing either 10 remain in Triui-
dad or 10 return TO India SIN have a
travel 10 some great country--and most
Of them have thcir hearts set on goirs
20 the United States New York the
city Of which they have heard so much.
IS the place that has a strong appoll
for them; and after the war is over
scores OF them VIII be leaving Trinidad
in hopes OF finding greater freedom and
greater fortune in the worlds greatest
city.
But unless the colonial government
rcconsiders its decree on irdcntuTc.
the East Indian coolic. with all he
has that is quaint and picturesque. Is
certain TO be lost to Trinidad after
the passing OF some few years. and
with his passing will come labor
problem OF such serious import that
upon its settlement may depend the
entire future of this British colony.
Local men Of power and prominence
have hopes Of solving tho question
satisfactorily-and they are depending
great deal upon the part the coolies
are playing for England in the war TO
bring about action By the British gov
crnment that Will be favorable 10 its
adjus tment
The Times Dispatch Travel Series
may be seen at the Bijou Theater each
Monday and Tuesday