1867 Chinese Coolie Arrival Manifest for Passengers of the Storied Russian Vessel Avon’s Voyage from Macau to Havana

On offer is a unique arrival manifest recording the names, information and fates of nine Chinese men who were transported on an complicated voyage of the Avon, from the port of Macau to Havana, Cuba to complete their indentured servitude as “coolies”, working for Cuban sugar plantation owners.

This manifest was created upon the arrival of the Russian Galley, Avon, in Havana, Cuba, once the coolies on board had their contracts sold to plantation owners. This manifest is particularly fascinating due to the history of the Avon’s journey to get these men to Havana. The Avon was built in the USA and named Cyclone, sold to Britain during the Civil War, before becoming an Italian coolie ship in 1865. In 1866 the Avon changed her flag to Russia. In November of 1866, British Captain Warwick began the Avon’s journey from Macau to Havana with 551 Chinese men on board. There was a disturbance on board the Avon, and the British Opossum and HMS Salamis found it off Lamma Island, Hong Kong. While Cpt. Warwick denied these claims, it was believed there had been a coolie uprising on board, and that there were kidnapped Chinese children on board who had not signed contracts. Avon returned to Macau on Nov 23, 1866 but 14 Chinese people were missing and there was no explanation given for their absences. An investigation determined that all rules had been properly followed, yet when the Avon set sail again for Macau on December 5, 1866, only 502 coolies were on board. Of those 502 coolies who made the final journey to Macau, only 473 arrived in Havana on April 14, 1867, for a 6% death rate on this sailing. A few days after the Avon’s arrival, 24 children who had been taken off the Avon were delivered to the Chief Mandarin of Cantos, arriving on the Portuguese gunboat, Camoes. 

The ultimate fates of 9 of the men who made the sailing to Havana on the Avon can be found on this manifest. On the 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. The 9 men on this manifest would go to work under the patron Solosabal Campos & C. [?] in Cienfuegos with contracts beginning on May 20, 1867. The manifest is signed by the Vice Director of Alianza y Cia, Carlos de Zaldo. 

The Avon 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. 

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 manifest measure 9.5x13 inches. It exhibits significant signs of aging including age toning, small rips and tears, especially at the centre crease. The manifest is one page. Spanish language. Fair.