Origins of the Indian Indenture System
Snippets of letters outlining the transition from African slavery in the British colonies to Indian indentured labor.
Note: This article has been excerpted from a larger work in the public domain and shared here due to its historical value. It may contain outdated ideas and language that do not reflect TOTA’s opinions and beliefs.
From Hill Coolies: A Brief Exposure of the Deplorable Condition of the Hill Coolies in British Guiana and Mauritius, and of the Nefarious Means by Which They were Induced to Resort to These Colonies, by John Scoble, 1840.
On the 4th January 1836, John Gladstone, Esq., addressed a letter to Messrs. Gillanders, Arbuthnot & Co., of Calcutta, in which he says, “You will probably be aware that we are very particularly situated with our negro apprentices in the West Indies, and that it is a matter of doubt and uncertainty, how far they may be induced to continue their services on the plantations after their apprenticeship expires in 1840. This, to us,—is a subject of great moment and deep interest in the colonies of Demerara and Jamaica. We are, therefore, most desirous to obtain and introduce labourers from other quarters, and particularly from climates similar in their nature.’’
After giving a most glowing account of the colony—the lightness of the labour required, and the repose enjoyed by the people—their “comfortable dwellings, and abundance of food”—the schools on each estate for the education of children; and the instruction of their parents in the knowledge of their religious duties”—(there are no schools on Vreed-en-Hoop, or Vriedestein!!) he sums up all by observing, “it may be fairly said they pass their time agreeably and happily.” Full of fears, however, for the future, he adds, It is of great importance to us to endeavour to provide a portion of other labourers, whom we might use as a set-off, and, when the time for it comes, make us, as far as possible, independent of our negro population.”
He then gives an order for 100 Coolies—“young, active, able-bodied people,’’ to be bound to labour for a period not less than five years, or more than seven years,” the wages not to exceed four dollars per month,” to provide themselves!
To which communication Messrs. Gillanders & Co., gave the following “encouraging” reply, on the 6th June, 1836; “within the last two years, upwards of 2000 natives have been sent from this to the Mauritius, by several parties here, under contracts of engagements for five years.
The contracts, we believe, are all of a similar nature; and we enclose a copy of one, under which we have sent 700 or 800 men to the Mauritius; and we are not aware that any greater difficulty would present itself in sending men to the West Indies, the Natives being perfectly ignorant of the place they agree to go to, or the length of the voyage they are under taking.’’
They then go on to state that the men selected for Mauritius, have “hardly any ideas beyond those of supplying the wants of nature;” and, therefore, we suppose, more likely to become the dupes of the cunning knaves who would entrap them into engagements, of the nature of which, they would be entirely ignorant. The “Dhangurs,” they add, in a subsequent part of their letter, “are always spoken of as more akin to the monkey than the man. They have no religion, no education, and, in their present state, no wants, beyond eating, drinking and sleeping; and to procure which, they are willing to labour.”
Fit subjects, truly, to be made slaves, and to cultivate the estates of John Gladstone, Esq., in Demerara! Now what reply was made to the proposition of Gillanders and Co.? Did the wealthy planter express his indignation that the Indian labourers were to be spirited away from their native land, under the idea that they were going to the Company’s Rabustie, ”to be engaged in gardening?” Did he express his disgust that his agents should select such ignorant and wretched creatures as the Dhangurs to practice deceit upon?
No! On the 10th March, 1837, he and his friend, John Moss, Esq., of Liverpool, gave Messrs, Gillanders & Co. to understand, that in the following May, they intended to forward the good ship “Hesperus to take Coolies to Demerara,” to the number of 150, and that should they have children to take with them, fifteen or twenty may be sent in addition. “In Demerara,” Mr. Gladstone adds, the females are employed in the field as well as the men; and if the female Coolies will engage to work there, a larger proportion may be sent, say two women to three men, or, if desired, equal numbers; but if they will not engage to work there, then the proportion sent to the Isle of France, of one female to nine or ten men, for cooking and washing, is enough!”
It is enough to give these quotations to show the origin of the Coolie slave-trade: and all we need add, is, that “Andrew Colville, Esq., (“a near connexion of Lord Auckland’s”) and Messrs. Davidsons, Barkley & Co. of London,” joined their friend Mr. Gladstone in a similar commission to Messrs. Gillanders & Co.
Scoble, John. Hill Coolies: A Brief Exposure of the Deplorable Condition of the Hill Coolies in British Guiana and Mauritius, and of the Nefarious Means by Which They were Induced to Resort to These Colonies. Harvey and Darton. 1840.
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