363 



during the march to Calcutta, a very great influ- 

 ence over their respective gangs, and, by the time 

 the Coolies reached their depot at Calcutta, they 

 were fully persuaded of the reality of the promises 

 held out to them when they left their homes, and 

 that these would be speedily realized. Acting 

 under the direction of their leaders they, parrot- 

 like, expressed their contentment when questioned 

 by the Protector, and their entire willingness to 

 fulfil their engagements. He (Mr. Ellis) must 

 beg to observe that he believed the work of the 

 Protector, so far as lay in his power, was most con- 

 scientiously performed at Calcutta by the Officer 

 appointed for that purpose ; but he maintained that 

 the bauds of intending emigrants were deceived 

 before reaching the depot and the influence of their 

 Sirdars dictated their answers to the Protector." 



" He did not wish to dwell upon the lamentable 

 and excessive mortality which had recently occurred 

 among the emigrants to the Island of Re-union, 

 and which had engaged, he believed, the attention 

 of the Government of Bengal, and the Government 

 of India, for he had no doubt that efficient reme- 

 dies would be applied. This mortality, which was 

 nearly double that which occurred among the emi- 

 grants to the Mauritius, amounted to 4J per cent 

 during the short time occupied in the voyage, and 

 in the distribution of the Coolies. With reference 

 to this particular branch of emigration from this 



