Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 7, 1874
No. 337.
Mr. Watson
to Mr. Fish.
Sir: With reference to the conversation which I had the honor to hold with you to-day on the subject of the recent suppression of the coolie trade at Macao, and the suspicions which, in consequence of the subsequent increase of the Chinese emigration to San Francisco, are entertained lest a portion of this emigration should surreptitiously be diverted to Peru or Cuba, I do myself the honor to transmit to you herewith for your information the copy of a dispatch and its inclosure which has been addressed to Lord Carnarvon by the governor of Hong-Kong.
I have, &c.,
Sir A. E. Kennedy to the Earl of Carnarvon.
Hong-Kong, May 22, 1874.
My Lord: Adverting generally to the correspondence between the government of Hong-Kong and Her Majesty’s government on the subject of the Macao coolie trade, I have the honor to transmit, for your lordship’s information, a return of the number of coolies shipped from Hong-Kong to San Francisco between 9th January and the 16th May, 1874, showing a total of 7,591, and to this return maybe added the ships now preparing for departure, carrying 930 and 281 respectively, making a total of 8,802 shipped in less than five months.
I confess that I cannot but regard this growing trade with suspicion, and I think the attention of Her Majesty’s consuls in America, Cuba, and Peru should be called to it.
The direct trade in coolies between Macao and the two latter countries being for the present prohibited, attempts to meet their demands will surely be made through indirect channels.
Judging from the personal knowledge I possess of San Francisco, and the character [Page 568] of the persons engaged in the transport of coolies between Hong-Kong and San Francisco, I can see no insuperable obstacle to the export of coolies from the latter port (or even their transshipment) to Peru and Cuba.
This course would be less lucrative to coolie traders than the direct trade from Macao, which is at present prohibited, but it would still yield a large profit.
Having regard to the urgent demand for coolies in Cuba and Peru, and the abundant means of supply here, and the enormous profits of the carrying trade, it must be expected that no means will be left untried to continue the traffic, which is, I fear, only for a time suspended at Macao, where there are still a number of coolie ships under the Peruvian flag lying idle,
In the case of the Florencia, lately reported on by me, I am informed on authority which I cannot doubt, that the coolies to load her outside the harbor of Hong-Kong were absolutely contracted for, and ready at Macao for shipment.
Had this venture succeeded, the remaining ships at Macao would undoubtedly have followed her example.
I am happy to believe that I am supported by all respectable persons, and the public opinion of Hong-Kong, in the repressive measures which have been adopted to avert the scandals of the coolie trade from our port.
I have, &c.,
Governor.
Return of vessels cleared hence [Hong-Kong] for California from January 1 to May 18, 1874, inclusive.
Date cleared. | Ship’s name. (Steamers marked S.) | Tons. | Nationality of ships. | Whither bound. | Adults. | Children. | Total. | Total each month. | Remarks. | |||
Male. | Female. | Male. | Female. | |||||||||
1874. Jan. |
9 | Vasco de Gama, S | 1,980 | British | San Francisco | 185 | 24 | 209 | ||||
12 | Japan, S | 4,404 | American | do | 382 | 42 | 50 | 3 | 477 | 686 | January. | |
Feb. | 12 | Great Republic, S | 3,881 | do | do | 218 | 13 | 34 | 265 | |||
27 | Alaska, S | 4,011 | do | do | 581 | 42 | 623 | 888 | February. | |||
Mar. | 16 | China, S | 3,836 | do | do | 929 | 19 | 70 | 1 | 1,019 | ||
27 | Colorado, S | 3,727 | do | do | 793 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 796 | |||
27 | Scotland, S | 1,176 | British | do | 622 | 36 | 658 | 2,473 | March | |||
Apr. | 4 | Vasco de Gama, S | 1,980 | do | do | 586 | 40 | 626 | ||||
4 | Gentoo | 779 | American | do | 275 | 29 | 304 | |||||
15 | Japan, S | 4,404 | do | do | 953 | 17 | 970 | 1,900 | April. | |||
May | 13 | Great Republic, S | 3,881 | do | do | 1,029 | 1 | 1,030 | ||||
16 | Vancouver, S | 1,937 | British | do | 585 | 29 | 614 | 1,644 | May. | |||
Total | 36,046 | 7,138 | 75 | 373 | 5 | 7,591 | 7,591 |
List of Chinese passenger-ships about to be dispatched for the undermentioned places.
Name of ship. | Tonnage. | Rig. | Flag. | Name of master. | Number of passengers. | Destination. | Probable date of sailing. | Consignees. |
Lord of the Isles | 1,845 | Steamer | British | Dowdy | 930 | San Francisco | May 21 | Nagel, Hagedom & Co. |
Nightingale | 722 | Ship | American | Carter | 281 | do | June 20 | Russell & Co. |