Translation of the Chinese document
inclosed in the dispatch of the United States chargé d’affaires
at Lima, of date 27th January, 1871, to
the minister of the United States at Peking.
Note.—The document is a petition by the
representatives of certain Chinese societies in Lima, setting forth
the distress of coolie emigrants in Peru, and praying that a Chinese
envoy may be appointed to inquire into their condition; or, failing
in this, that the United States minister to Peru may be invested
with authority to act as such envoy. The date of the petition is
26th January, 1871. The cover is dated 10th year of Tung-Chih, first
moon, 26th day, and is stamped with the name of the Fukeên and
Swatow Guild, the Kwang Tung Guild, and the Tung Shêng club, of
Lima.
The petition is in very good literary style; the person to whom it is
addressed is probably the United States minister at Lima, though no
name or title excepting “your excellency” appears in it.
[Translation.]
Chêng Chuan, Wen Têh-lin, Chêng Chun-ta, and Lin Hu-shih,
representing the Kwang Tung and Fu-Keên Guilds, all being Chinese
subjects lost abroad, with their foreheads to the ground, present a
petition to your excellency. They cast themselves upon your
heaven-like intelligence, that the insolent deception and cruelly
oppressive treatment, suffered by Chinese subjects at the hands of
wicked barbarians, may be inquired into. Petitioners would humbly
set forth that the reason why, though born and bred in China, they
took service abroad is because they were unable to gain a livelihood
at home, owing to the swarm [like bees] of rebels and robbers from
the fourth year of Heen Fêng, (1854.) Later, in the eighth year of
Heen Fêng, (1858,) there appeared a joint notification by his
excellency Hwang, governor general of the two Kwang provinces, and
his excellency Pih, governor of Kwang Tung, to the effect
[Page 114]
that rules of agreement
had been entered into with England and France, with reference to the
engagement of laborers to go to Peru, the period of service to be
eighth years, on the expiry of which term those thus engaged to be
sent home, etc., etc.; and consequently the number of emigrants who
have come to Peru since that year is no less than several myriads.
But, far from what was expected, the barbarians have shown
themselves treacherous in many ways. In China, when they were
seeking men, they spoke of our taking service as laborers, and
designated us “guests,” [i e., visitors abroad;] on landing in their
country, however, they said we had “sold ourselves,” and called us
“slaves.” Furthermore, they beat and swear at us with great
violence, and feed and clothe us insufficiently; they brand two
characters on the side of the face as is done in China in cases of
banishment; they fasten shackles on the ankles, just as if we were
captured prisoners. We have to till the soil or dig canals, day and
night; with dogging and beating to death, one cannot reckon the
number of resentful ghosts. Notwithstanding rules of agreement were
drawn up, in how many instances have they been regarded? While it
was stated that we should be sent home, yet, who, we ask, has been
so sent on the expiry of the term of service? Alas! Alas! Your
suppliants went forth from a land of reason and justice to one where
no sense of right prevails; from being the faithful subjects of a
great country we have unwittingly fallen into the poisonous clutch
of barbarian slaves. We humbly submit that having [in going abroad]
shown ourselves disloyal to our sovereign and unfilial to our
ancestors, the indiction upon us of insult and oppression does not
indeed merit commiseration; still, the treatment we, his subjects,
receive gives our Emperor cause to blush, and is a stain upon our
ancestors. How very painful it is to speak or think of this! In the
first moon of the ninth year of Tûng Chih, a petition was forwarded
through the United States magistrate [? consul] to the minister,
praying him to intercede. On the 21st day of the 4th moon a reply
[from the consul] was received to the effect that he hoped the
United States minister would examine the circumstances with
compassion, and devise means of relief, so that those desiring to
remain should no longer be subjected to oppression, and those
desiring to return home might do so at an early day. This the consul
earnestly hoped; and further, this matter had been fully
communicated to their excellencies, the envoys from China to the
different powers, Mr. Burlingame, Chih, and Sun, for their
information, &c.; such was the reply to the position. But
although we have been favored with the sympathy of these high
officials, still our extreme distress has been too great to be
relieved, and from day to day the oppression grows worse. The
avarice and cruelty of the wealthy merchants is wolf-like, and the
vexatious treatment of the foreign [Peruvian] officials is like a
tiger. Our countrymen cannot make a motion without its being
construed into a fault. What is the explanation of all this?
England, France, and the United States, and the various nations
great and small, whose people are engaged in commerce here, and go
to and fro, have each established an official called “consul,” a man
sent out from his own country; again, there are ships of war every
year visiting and looking about, and each nation has its resident
minister to exercise control. Hence the officials and people of Peru
do not dare to commit such acts as they pleas-with the people of
other nationalities, and the reason why all kinds of tyranny is
visited upon Chinese alone is verily that our heavenly dynasty has
no ships of war to visit and inspect, and no minister to exercise
control on the spot. With the majesty of the Emperor extending to
the four seas, and his goodness pervading every place, we humbly
venture to ask why this hateful tribe should be permitted to give
the rein to their violence and audacity, to the grievous affliction
of his subjects?
Your petitioners, in sore distress at the cruelties inflicted, and
with a sense of resentment for the living and the dead, have
prepared a petition in common, supplicating your favor to save and
lift them up; they would beg your excellency to have the Emperor
memorialized to exercise his special grace, and commission an envoy
to proceed to Peru to make an investigation, when the wicked
barbarians must certainly put a stop to their cruel conduct; or,
failing this, to commission the minister of the United States to act
for him. Then the restoration of your humble petitioners from death
to life will be the gift of your excellency. On our knees we present
this petition, praying that your excellency’s posterity may be
ennobled for all generations.
The humble members of the Kwang Tung Guild, and of the Fukeen Guild,
prostrate themselves.
Petition presented on the 26th day of January, (according to the
occidental date.)
True translation:
EDWD. B. DREW.
May 11,
1871.
