POPULATION. 171 



the comparative mortality among Coolies and Creoles would be 

 10 adult Creoles to 3 adult Coolies; 9 Creole children to 1 Coolie 

 child ; 8*33 Creole infants to 1 Coolie infant. 



1873-1874: Mean death-rate :— Adults, 3'7; children, H- 

 The total mortality of the 22,000 Indians resident on estates 

 maybe calculated at 2 per cent. 1878-1879: 163 deaths on 

 8,384 contract servants, or 1*34 per cent of the adults. On 52 

 estates out of 105, the death-rate was only 0*5 per cent. 



If we take the quinquennial period terminating on 30th 

 September, 1879, we have the following results : — 



I unhesitatingly endorse the remark of Dr. Gavin, that the 

 mortality (5* 5 8 per cent.) among children under five and ten 

 years is the true cause of the excessive mortality of Port-of- 

 Spain; but the remark is evidently not applicable to Indian 

 children, the mortality among them being only 1*94 per cent. 



Let me observe, in explanation, that the Coolies located on 

 estates receive regular medical attendance, and the required medi- 

 cines and food when sick. Young children are placed under the 

 care of some nurse when their mothers are at work ; they are 

 allowed to suck as long as they please. Their usual food is 

 cow's milk and rice — not highly nutritious, perhaps, but well 

 adapted to delicate digestive organs. Their parents at all times 

 take good care of them. 



Ou the other hand, the Creoles, in general, have only pre- 

 carious medical attendance, because of their own unwillingness to 

 remunerate a regular practitioner ; in lieu of this, they prefer the 

 assistance of a class of impostors, both male and female, who 

 unite the practice of Obeahism and quackery, exact little from 

 their patients, but are commonly satisfied with the amount and 

 mode of remuneration tendered for the nostrums they administer 

 nul the incantations they perform. When sick, very many of 

 the labouring class are, solely through previous improvidence, 

 in need of almost everything. The ohildren, generally speaking, 



