IV. 



"Now I contend that whatever may be the strin- 

 gency of the laws framed by the Indian Government 

 on the subject of emigration, they will be insufficient 

 to prevent the coolie from being lured away, I do not 

 say, against his will, but with a very misty and im- 

 perfect idea of what is before him. It must not be 

 forgotten that he does not leave the Indian shores a 

 free man. He leaves it under the bondage of a five 

 years contract, which, however unsuitable he may find 

 the work he is put to, he is compelled to complete, 

 and a further service of five years, before he can 

 claim a passage back to his native land. Under 

 such a system, view it as you please, emigration 

 must partake in some degree, remote let it be, of 

 the nature of the slave trade. As long as the 

 coolies go to a British colony the Indian Government 

 has the satisfaction of knowing, that living under 

 the protection of English laws, their slavery will be 

 of the very mildest form ; but in the case of foreign 

 colonies it has no such guarantee/' 



"From the moment the Government of India 

 considers its Indian subjects to be in a condition 

 to exercise their free will in matters of this 

 kind, the bearings of the case are completely 

 altered. The native of India then, will be as free 

 as the native of Britain. But until that time has come, 

 apart altogether from considerations regarding the 

 wants of this country, I certainly would not advocate 

 the multiplication of treaties, at least with foreign 



