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Title Emigration (and Coolie Immigration), 1877. Volume 3. Despatches: West Indies
Date 5 May 1877 - 11 Feb 1878
Document Type Correspondence; Manuscript
Reference CO 384/115
Library / Archive The National Archives
Collection Name War and Colonial Department and Colonial Office: Emigration Original Correspondence.
Description Correspondence from governors and emigration agents in the West Indies. The letters include detailed reports on the arrival and journey of ships transporting labourers, crime and health among labourers in the Colonies, and administration regarding the movement of labour around the Colonies, including the costs incurred and dealing with labour shortages.
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) Arrivals: Ports and Early Experiences; Religion, Ethnic Identity and Community Relations
Country (from) India; China; United States of America; British Guiana; St Helena; Barbados; Cape de Verde; Portugal; St Thomas; Nevis; Antigua; Panama; St Lucia; St Vincent
Country (to) India; China; British Guiana; St Helena; Barbados; Cape de Verde; Portugal; St Thomas; Nevis; Antigua; Panama; St Lucia; St Vincent
Places Demerara, Essequibo, Berbice, British Guiana; Cape of Good Hope, South Africa; Kingston, Buff Bay, Jamaica; California, United States; Azores, Portugal
Ports Calcutta, India; Georgetown, Demerara, British Guiana
Nationality English; Indian; Chinese; Creole; French
Ships Neva; Pandora; Ailsa; King Arthur; Rohilla; Foyle; Jorawar; Ganges; Trevelyan; Aldergrove
People Crosby, James; Lord Carnarvon (Herbert, Henry Howard Molyneux); Kartright, Sir Cornelius Hendrickson; Musgrave, Anthony; Dundas, George; Berkeley, Sir George; Walcott, Stephen; Herbert, Sir Robert George Wyndham G W; Young, William A G; Des Voeux, William
Keywords dysentery, influenza, journey conditions, surgeon, disease, health, mortality rate, hospital, wages, planters, plantation, murder, manslaughter, bounty, labour shortage, labourers, sugar, cocoa, religion, marriage, famine, indentured labour
Language English
Document(s) linked to Emigration (and Coolie Immigration), 1877. Volume 1. Eastern, Australian and Miscellaneous Colonies
Emigration (and Coolie Immigration) 1877. Volume 2. Despatches: West Indies
Emigration (and Coolie Immigration), 1877. Volume 4. Offices and Individuals
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