EAST INDIANS IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
By E. A. LuckuHoo, 
The history of the East Indians of British Guiana furnishes some 
interesting particulars. This history commences from the year 1838, 
when 406 immigrants arrived from India to supply the labour required on 
the sugar plantations. The colony to-day boasts of a total East Indian 
population of 130,000—nearly one-half of the population of the whole 
country. East Indian immigration has served the purpose of benefiting 
both the planters and the colony in general. 
When freedom came to the African slaves, it was good-bye to the 
plantations and plantation labour. It was natural enough that these 
unfortunate creatures should flee from the scenes associated with bondage 
and the taskmaster ; though some remained who, with the money they 
had saved during slavery and what they subsequently earned as free 
labourers, invested on estates which are the villages of the present day. 
Many planters were ruined as a result of emancipation; and those who 
survived found that if they were to continue the cultivation of their lands, 
they must obtain labourers elsewhere. Immigrants from various countries 
were thereafter introduced—Africans from Sierra Leone, Madeirans, 
Maltese. Chinese and East Indians. There also arrived a number of 
Barbadians, together with some Germans and people from the United 
States; and even a few English ploughmen found their way to these 
shores. The East Indians and the Chinese proved to be the hest adapted 
to the agricultural work on the plantations. The Portuguese made very 
good labourers, but they did not evince much love for the soil, preferring 
to engage in trade, in which they excel. Chinese immigration, which 
commenced in 1853, ceased in 1878. The East Indians continue to flow 
through the channel of our admirably organized immigration system. 
“The general result of East Indian immigration,” says Mr. Rodway, a 
local historian, “‘ has been good ; the population of the colony has been 
increased from about 100,000 to close upon 300,000, and some estates are 
able to realise fair protits.’ Mr. Hewick, an erst-occupant of the Judicial 
Bench, thinks the East Indians have done much ‘ towards keeping the 
colony from rushing down-hill.” Mr. Duff, late Immigration Agent 
General, is of opinion that these members of our population, ‘‘ with their 
love of land and fondness for agricultural and pastoral pursuits, will 
probably have a greater influence on the future of the colony than all the 
other races put together.” 
There are East Indians scattered all over many places; but it is 
doubtful whether they have better opportunities for material advancement 
and are allowed greater privileges than those in British Guiana. Even 
in some British colonies to which they have emigrated, they suffer under 
various disabilities which render their position uncomfortable. In one or 
