1869 Archive of Two Chinese Coolie Trade Ship Arrival Manifests for Passengers of the Russian Vessel Neva’s Sailing from Macau to Havana

On offer is an archive two fascinating arrival manifests, recording the names, information and fates of 42 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 Russian ship, Neva, in Havana, Cuba, once the coolies on board had their contracts sold to plantation owners. This sailing of the Neva departed January 27, 1869 from Macau. It arrived in Cuba on April 30, 1869. 537 Chinese men boarded the ship in Macau and 485 arrived alive in Havana, for a death rate of nearly 10%. The ultimate fates of 42 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 12 coolies whose contract will begin on July 9, 1869. They will work under their patron, Ana Josefa Alvarez do Segundo, in Matanzas. The second manifest lists 30 coolies whose contracts will begin July 9, 1869, under patron Senores Carrillo y Diago in Havana. 

The Neva  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 sailing of the Neva was captained by J.D. Onate. 

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 folio leaf, with one of the two having writing on the front and back of the page. Spanish language. Overall Fair. 

Citations: 

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