378 TRINIDAD. 



exercises a strict surveillance on behalf of the government. To 

 the present superintendent of immigrants, Dr. H. Mitchell, great 

 praise is due for the intelligent and conciliatory manner in which 

 he conducts everything connected with the department, and for 

 the zeal, activity, and impartiality with which he discharges his 

 important and arduous duties : to him the Government is indebted 

 for many useful suggestions. I may say that, under the operation 

 of the present ordinance, the immigrants " are healthy, well 

 clothed, and contented, improving in habits of industry." The 

 industrious habits of the coolies particularly are manifested by 

 instances of many of them, either remitting home, or taking with 

 them on their return, after four or five years industrial residence, 

 as much as 400 and 600 dollars comparatively large sums of 

 money. That they are contented is proved by the fact that, in 

 the year 1852, 508 coolies engaged for one year's further in- 

 dustrial residence, on a bounty of ten dollars per head being 

 granted. It is therefore certain and undeniable, that under the 

 strict surveillance of government, coolie immigration has been 

 highly successful, and that not only the colony, but they them- 

 selves, as proved by the above figures, have also benefited by 

 their introduction, more particularly in the instance of the year 

 1854, when all those who were entitled to a return passage pre- 

 ferred remaining, and received the bounty. The climate seems 

 well adapted to the coolie ; he is not subject to yellow fever, 

 and can encounter the marsh fever as well as the African himself. 

 Anaimia and ulcers are their prevalent diseases ; but these com- 

 plaints are merely the result of improper food or filthy habits, and 

 of protracted or neglected fevers. Their children are in general 

 plump and lively. Let me reiterate, therefore, that coolie immi- 

 gration, properly conducted, may yet aid in saving such of the 

 islands as have fertile lands ; nay, may be the foundation, in this 

 archipelago, of industrial, peaceful, and happy communities, 

 whose prosperous example may become a useful lesson to other 

 classes of immigrants, and a powerful stimulus to the influx of 

 foreign labour ; for not only are the coolies a very intelligent race, 

 but they are saving, industrious, well adapted to the climate, and 

 highly susceptible of improvement. 



In the month of March, 1853, 440 Chinese were landed in 

 Port-of- Spain ; but unfortunately they were unaccompanied by 

 interpreters, and were, of course exposed to many sufferings from 



