1869 Incredible Archive of Five Chinese Coolie Trade Ship Arrival Manifests for Passengers of the French Vessel Niagara’s Voyage from Macau to Havana

On offer is a truly remarkable archive of five arrival manifests, recording the names, information and fates of 125 Chinese men who were transported on the October, 1868 voyage of the Niagara 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, Niagara, in Havana, Cuba, once the coolies on board had their contracts sold to plantation owners. This sailing of the Niagara departed October 3, 1868 from Macau under the French flag. It arrived in Cuba on February 15, 1869. 406 Chinese men boarded the ship and only 385 arrived in Havana.The ultimate fates of 125 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 50 men whose contracts will begin on February 18, 1869, working under patron Julian Zulueta in Havana. The second manifest lists 25 men whose contracts will begin on February 23, 1869 under patron Sannago S[?] in Havana. The third manifest details 10 men whose contracts will begin on February 24, 1869 under patron Pascual Mendoza in Havana. The fourth manifest reports on 20 men whose contracts will begin March 3, 1869 under patron Miguel Gaston in Havana. The fifth and final manifest contains the fates of 20 men whose contracts will begin on March 6, 1869 under patron Ramon Dia, D. Julio and Evaveiso Cassico [?] in Havana. 

The Niagara 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 1868 sailing of the Niagara resulted in a mortality rate of almost 5%, with 21 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. 

The five manifests vary in condition from Poor to Fair+. They all display significant signs of aging including age toning, small rips and tears, especially at the centre creases.Three of the five manifests are completely separated at creases. All are legible. Spanish language. Four of the five documents measure 9.5x13 inches (two separated at the centre crease). One is a fold-out double sized sheet measuring approx 9.5x25 inches (complete tears at two creases). 

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