1879 Dramatic Letter to from the Master of a Mazantas Plantation to the Mayor Regarding Runaway Fugitive Chinese Coolies
12083On offer is an intriguing letter written from the Mayordomo (slave master) of a Cuban plantation, likely to the town Mayor in the province of Matanzas about escapted Chinese coolie labourers.
The handwritten letter explains that two Chinese fugitives (asiaticos) have fled the plantation. The first fugitive, Julio, escaped while completing his first “primitive” contract and the second, Eladio, escaped in the middle of his recontrata (second contract, signed after completing the primitive contract). The Mayordomo goes on to explain that two other Chinese labourers, Vinrio and Lucino have also fled. This letter would have been important information for the public officials as they would need to be aware of fugitive coolies on the loose.
This letter speaks to the horrible conditions suffered by Chinese labourers in Cuba during the time of the coolie trade and to the communication between plantation owners and local government.
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 letter measures 8.5x6.25 inches. It is handwritten in ink, recto and verso of a single sheet. Age toning and creasing but overall VG.
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