EMIGRATION FROM INDIA. 



By Arthur H. Hill. 



As the stoppage of Emigration from India has brought to the fore- 

 front the question of a labour supply, the following rough sketch of the 

 system which had been instrumental in building up 45^ of the colony's 

 population, is written in the hope it may prove of interest. 



At the outset it should be made clear that it is unlawful for any 

 person, except in conformity with the Indian Emigration Act, to " make or 

 attempt to make any agreement with any Native of India purporting to 

 " bind him to emigrate, or inducing or attempting to induce any Native 

 " of India to leave any place for the purpose of emigrating &c, " and that 

 very heavy penalties— up to a year's imprisonment — may be imposed for 

 breaches of the law. 



Organised emigration of labourers to the colonies is under the control 

 of Emigration Agents, usually Civil Servants of one or other of the colo- 

 nies, appointed by the Secretary of State, and approved by the Viceroy. 



Of late years L Jie colonies importing labour from India have been 

 Trinidad, British Guiana, Jamaica, and Fiji. Also the Dutch Colony of 

 Surinam. Formerly emigration was also permitted to Mauritius and Natal 

 but was put a stop to. Emigrants arc still however returned from these 

 places every year in accordance with their contracts. 



The Ports from which emigration from India to the colonies is lawful 

 are Calcutta and Madras and, consequently at these places the Agencies, 

 with their Depots for the accommodation of coolies awaiting shipment, 

 are situated. 



At Calcutta, until recent years, there were three separate Colonial 

 Agencies at work, all being situated at Garden Reach, about 4 miles from 

 Calcutta proper. Trinidad, Jamaica, Fiji, and Mauritius shared a Depot 

 between them at 21 Garden Beach ; while British Guiana had its separate 

 Agency at 61, Garden Reach. On the 1st January, 1914, the two Agencies 

 were amalgamated, the Trinidad Agent taking charge of the up-country 

 recruiting (the Headquarters of which was Benares) the British Guiana 

 Agent remaining at Calcutta and practically controlling the whole scheme. 

 This arrangement was short-lived as in 1916 it was decided to close the 

 Benares Agency, the coolies coming direct to Calcutta as hitherto. 



Garden Reach was the residential part of Calcutta about 100 years 

 ago. Here it was that the deposed King of Oudh was located with his 

 numerous wives and followers on his removal by the British Government 

 from Oudh. Allowed it is said £100,000 a year to live upon, the ex-King 

 with a swarm of courtiers and followers lived in this locality. On his 

 death his Palace was demolished, and the various residences of his Minis- 

 ters, and favourite wives sold, to pay off the numerous creditors that were 

 forthcoming. 



