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Title Emigration (and Coolie Immigration), 1894. Volume 1
Date 12 Oct 1892 - 29 Mar 1895
Document Type Correspondence; Manuscript
Reference CO 384/189
Library / Archive The National Archives
Collection Name War and Colonial Department and Colonial Office: Emigration Original Correspondence
Description Despatches for the East, Australia and the West Indies dealing with the movement and management of indentured Indian labourers to and from the West Indies. Includes immigration returns, crimes committed, conditions on board ships and the management of plantations with respect to agricultural labourers.
Series Description This series contains correspondence relating to British settlement in North America and Australasia, and to Indian indentured labour in the West Indies. Until 1857 it consists of domestic letters alone. The series then ceases and is not resumed until 1872.
Biographical Note / History A Colonial Land and Emigration Commission was created in 1840 to undertake the duties of two earlier and overlapping authorities under the supervision of the secretary of state: the Colonisation Commissioners for South Australia and the Agent General for Emigration. In 1855 it became the Emigration Commission. The commission's powers were gradually given up to the larger colonies as they obtained self-government, and after 1873 it was responsible only for controlling the importation of Indian labour into sugar-producing colonies. It was abolished in 1878 and an Emigration Department was then set up in the Colonial Office. This department was merged with the General Department in 1894, and abolished altogether in 1896.
Theme(s) Motives for Emigration; Journey Conditions; Politics, Legislation and Governance
Country (from) India; China; Australia
Country (to) Malaysia; Mauritius; Tanzania; Paraguay; Fiji; British Guiana; Trinidad; Jamaica; Windward Islands; St Lucia; Grenada
Places South Australia, Queensland, Australia; Demerara, British Guiana
Ports Calcutta, India; Hong Kong, China
Nationality Javanese; Japanese; Indian; Australian
Ships Moy; British Peer; Ems; Hereford; Main; Sheila; Ganges; Avoca; Avon; Bann; Elbe; Brenda; Volga; Warora; Royal Tar
Keywords government, legislation, Coolie, shipping, journey conditions, health and sickness, medical staff, medicine, surgeon, leprosy, exploitation, crime, provisions, food, agent, labourer, disease, immigration, pensions, Salvation Army, scabies, family, agriculture, gold, industry
Language English
Document(s) linked to Emigration (and Coolie Immigration), 1894. Volume 2
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