File:The earth and its inhabitants (1882) (14775208714).jpg

Identifier: earthitsinhabita18recl (find matches)
Title: The earth and its inhabitants ..
Year: 1882 (1880s)
Authors: Reclus, Elisée, 1830-1905 Ravenstein, Ernest George, 1834-1913 Keane, Augustus Henry, 1833-1912
Subjects: Geography
Publisher: New York : D. Appleton and Company
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Internet Archive

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there were still about 50,000 negroes i)iPeru; at present they number at most 5,000. On the plantations they are replacedby Chinese coolies and South-Sea Islanders, of whom nearly 100,000 have beenintroduced .since 1849. AVhatever be said to the contrary by interested persons, the coolie traffic hasalways been accompanied by injustice and atrocities. The pretended fice handshad often been kidnapped on the coasts of China, while those who signed thecontract voluntarily discovered too late the hoUowness of the promises in whichthey had believed. Revolts occurred on the high seas, and frightful strugglestook place between the crews and the captives. Reports arc current of vesselswhich disapijcared altogether, burnt by their living freight, preferring death tobondage. After .the horrors of the middle passage came those of forced labour on theplantations. Groaning under the lash during the day, confined at night inhovels guarded by armed men, with only three days of rest in the whole year.
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o o INHABITANTS OP PEEU. 315 and a vile diet, supplied at exorbitant charges by the planters themselves, thosewho survived the eight _years for which they had signed found themselves atthe end burdened with a debt of which they knew nothing, and for which theyhad to serve a fresh term of slavery. Nevertheless, an improvement in the condition of the labourers was effected,partly by the protests of the Chinese Government, partly by the ruin of theplantations or the exhaustion of the guano-beds, and often by the revolts of thevictims. The importation of coolies ceased, and those who remained in Peru, some50,000, have recovered their liberty. Most of the Chinese have given up thtirnational dress and no longer wear the pig-tail. They are scattered everywhere,and are even met in the settlements on the Amazonian slope. In the towns they take to trade, keep hotels and restaurants, practise diversecrafts, and succeed in all their undertakings. Hence they excite great jealousy,and at the time o

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