INTRODUCTION. 23 



labourers ; skilful mechanics we shall always be able to procure 

 whenever we stand in need of their service. European labourers 

 might find employment in the curing-house or on cacao planta- 

 tions in healthy localities, in the care of stock or the cultivation 

 of vegetables ; but they will never be able to undergo any hard 

 or exposed work, more especially field work, in our climate. The 

 only class of labourers that will ever suit our requirements are 

 Africans and Asiatics. I must declare here once and for ever, that 

 I am decidedly opposed to the importation of Africans direct 

 from Africa — at least, in any numbers — because the natives of 

 that continent, ranking no higher than semi-barbarians, require 

 a great deal of care and attention to effect their civilisation, par- 

 ticularly as, from past circumstances, they have every reason to 

 distrust the Backras, or white people. They are besides inclined 

 to retain and propagate their superstitious devices and heathenish 

 practices. 



The fate of the White and the Black man is intimately con- 

 nected, and in these islands, where slavery no more exists, they 

 must rise or fall together. Highly mistaken are those who think 

 that the emancipated Africans are able to carve out their onward 

 destinies by their own unaided efforts, and that the presence of 

 the White man on the same spot with them is an obstacle to 

 their advancement. 



The vast and overcrowded peninsula of India teems with an 

 intellectual, mild, and industrious population ; but that popula- 

 tion is crushed under the tyranny of castes, and is in its native 

 condition most miserable, and no better in a moral point of view, 

 as exhibited in the picture which Sir Emerson Tennent draws of 

 the Tamils of Ceylon : u Their households exhibit none of the 

 endearments and comforts which constitute the charms and 

 attractions of a home. Sensuality and gain are the two passions 

 of their existence, and in the pursuit of them they exhibit a 

 licentiousness so shocking, and practices so inconceivably vile, as 

 would scarcely obtain credence from those who are familiar with 

 the aspects and usages of civilised life even in its lowest and 

 least attractive forms." He is deceitful, and always prepared to 

 take advantage of the unaware. 



The Hindoo race is a branch of the great Aryan stock ; and 

 the Coolies who have been brought to Mauritius, British Guiana, 

 and Trinidad have been instrumental in saving these valuable 

 possessions from ruin. They have their faults undoubtedly, and 

 are especially confirmed liars. The new comers, who belong to 

 the lowest castes, are filthy in their habits, lazy, and addicted to 

 pilfering. As a class, however, they have proved obedient 

 subalterns, industrious, and steady ; and, so far as my personal 

 opinion is concerned, I would say that, though they are not so 



