1869 Chinese Coolie Arrival Manifest for Passengers of the German Vessel Confucius’ Voyage from Macau to Havana

On offer is an arrival manifest recording the names, information and fates of 26 Chinese men who were transported on an complicated voyage of the Confucius, 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 German Galley, Confucius, in Havana, Cuba, once the coolies on board had their contracts sold to plantation owners. The Confucius departed Macau on October 18, 1868 and arrived in Havana, Cuba on March 3, 1869. 218 Chinese men boarded the ship and only 196 arrived in Cuba, for a 9.9% death rate on the voyage. 

The ultimate fates of 26 of the men who made the sailing to Havana 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 26 men on this manifest would go to work under the patron Feresa Senmea Mar [?] in Havana with contracts beginning on March 9, 1869. The manifest is signed by the Vice Director of Alianza y Cia, Carlos de Zaldo. 

The Confucius 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 signs of aging including age toning, small rips and tears, especially at the centre crease. The manifest is one page. Spanish language. Fair to Good.

Citations: 

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