1869 Archive of Two Chinese Coolie Trade Ship Arrival Manifests for Passengers of the French Vessel Lucie’s MutinousSailing from Macau to Havana

On offer is an archive two fascinating arrival manifests, recording the names, information and fates of 38 Chinese men who were transported on the December 1868 voyage of the Lucie from the port of Macau to Havana, Cuba to complete their indentured servitude as “coolies”, working for Cuban sugar plantation owners.

These manifests were created upon the arrival of the French Galley, Lucie, in Havana, Cuba, once the coolies on board had their contracts sold to plantation owners. This sailing of the Lucie departed December 8, 1868 from Macau under the French flag. It arrived in Cuba on April 10, 1869. This voyage of the Lucie was known to have had a mutiny initiated by the Chinese on board. 360 Chinese men boarded the ship and only 327 arrived in Havana.The ultimate fates of 38 of those men can be found on these manifests. On each manifest, the coolie’s number (assigned at departure), Chinese name, given Christian name, age, sex, work he is destined to do, length of contract, start date of contract, Cuban patron (plantation owner) and location they will be living are indicated. All the manifests are signed by the Vice Director of Alianza y Cia, Carlos de Zaldo. 

The first manifest identifies 28 coolies whose contract will begin on May 22, 1869. They will work under their patron, Roza Rios, in Cardenas. The second manifest lists 10 coolies whose contracts will begin June 1, 1869, under patron Ignacio Gonzalez Laminga in Cardenas. 

The Lucie was a ship of the 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 particular 1869  sailing of the Lucie  resulted in a mortality rate of almost 10%, with 33 men dying on the voyage. 

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.

On offer is an archive two fascinating arrival manifests, recording the names, information and fates of 38 Chinese men who were transported on the December 1868 voyage of the Lucie from the port of Macau to Havana, Cuba to complete their indentured servitude as “coolies”, working for Cuban sugar plantation owners.

These manifests were created upon the arrival of the French Galley, Lucie, in Havana, Cuba, once the coolies on board had their contracts sold to plantation owners. This sailing of the Lucie departed December 8, 1868 from Macau under the French flag. It arrived in Cuba on April 10, 1869. This voyage of the Lucie was known to have had a mutiny initiated by the Chinese on board. 360 Chinese men boarded the ship and only 327 arrived in Havana.The ultimate fates of 38 of those men can be found on these manifests. On each manifest, the coolie’s number (assigned at departure), Chinese name, given Christian name, age, sex, work he is destined to do, length of contract, start date of contract, Cuban patron (plantation owner) and location they will be living are indicated. All the manifests are signed by the Vice Director of Alianza y Cia, Carlos de Zaldo. 

The first manifest identifies 28 coolies whose contract will begin on May 22, 1869. They will work under their patron, Roza Rios, in Cardenas. The second manifest lists 10 coolies whose contracts will begin June 1, 1869, under patron Ignacio Gonzalez Laminga in Cardenas. 

The Lucie was a ship of the 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 particular 1869  sailing of the Lucie  resulted in a mortality rate of almost 10%, with 33 men dying on the voyage. 

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. 

Both manifests measure 9.5x13 inches. They display significant signs of aging including age toning, small rips and tears, especially at the centre creases. Each manifest is one single page, with one of the two having writing on the front and back of the page. Spanish language. Overall Fair to Poor. 

Both manifests measure 9.5x13 inches. They display significant signs of aging including age toning, small rips and tears, especially at the centre creases. Each manifest is one single page, with one of the two having writing on the front and back of the page. Spanish language. Overall Fair to Poor. 

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