1866 Chinese Coolie Departure Manifest for the Ship Cataluna, Which Began the Use of Steamer Ships for Coolie Transport to Havana

On offer is an exceptional, complete 1866 Spanish ship manifest, recording the names and information of 473 Chinese men who were transported from the port of Macau to Havana, Cuba to complete their indentured servitude as “coolies”, working for Cuban sugar plantation owners.

This manifest is for the May 12, 1866 sailing of the Spanish Galley, Cataluna. This sailing was captained by Captain M.L. Vaello, who sailed it for Alianza y Cia, a coolie importing business that was born through the merger of the Empresa and La Compania de Seguros y Creditos. The Alianza was the major importer of Chinese labourers, making 55 shipments of men between 1865 and 1873. This sailing of the Cataluna began the regular transportation of coolies by steamer to Cuba. Of the 473 men who departed Macau for Havana, only 409 survived the journey. This manifest was signed on May 9, 1866 by Ricardo Calderon, a Macao-based emigration agent who sent a total of 3,198 Chinese to Havana on behalf of the Alianza in 1866. It was also signed the day before departure on May 11, 1866 by The Consul General of His Majesty, José de Alguilar. 

The Chinese coolie trade, a system of indentured labor that targeted young, poor Chinese men, operated from 1847-1874. Throughout this period, African slavery was slowly being abolished around the world. The coolie trade was initiated by Britain and was eventually dominated by both Britain and the United States of America. Chinese coolie laborers were sent to work in British, American and Spanish colonies, and the nature of the trade changed throughout its 27-year operation, due to social and political pressures. The coolie trade took place, in large part, between the shipping port in Macao (now a part of China, then under Portuguese rule) and Havana, Cuba (then under Spanish control). As Macau was under Portugese rule at the time of the coolie trade, they transported coolies on their vessels frequently and many of the manifests were written in Portuguese and/or Spanish. To learn more about the Chinese coolie trade and its importance in world history, click here to read our in-depth research blog on the topic. 

This departure manifest measures 12.5x16 inches. It consists of three pages with writing on the front and back of all pages, for a total of six pages of text. The manifest is held together by a staple in the upper left corner. The manifest contains +++ fraying of the edges, one large tear on a crease line and other minor tears and bends. Age toning present, worn appearance. The third pages is ++ fragile. Overall Poor. 

Citation:

Asome, J. (2020). Coolie ships of the Chinese diaspora (1846-1874). Proverse Hong Kong.