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‘The contrast between the lean, hungry Cassius-looking coolies who arrive at Port Louis, and the stout, muscular well-fed fellows with well-lined purses who leave its shores, is very remarkable.’ Taken from F.J. Mouat, A Bengal Civilian, Journal of Five Months’ Residence in the Mauritius, Calcutta, 1838.

Source: William Agnew Paton, Down the Islands, A Voyage to the Caribbees, Charles Scribner, NY, 1887. Illustration by M J Burns.

Source: J. Rodway & H.J. Stark, Stark’s Guide Book and History of British Guiana, Sampson Low, London, 1907.

Individuals wishing to return to India with family members were required to obtain the consent of relatives or guardians. Source: Mauritius Archives

Source: J. Rodway and H.J. Stark, Stark’s Guide Book and History of British Guiana, Sampson Low, London, 1907.

From the archive

In this section you can find examples of documents discovered in the archives by the "Becoming Coolies" project researchers.

Old Immigrant's Ticket

Contract of Service

Immigration Consent

Protector's Certificate of Inspection

The Story of a Petition

Objections to the shipment of 'coolies' for Reunion

Report by Abdoolah Kahn

Dwarkanath Tagore's Evidence

Rajcomar's Narrow Escape

Ramjuttan's Complaint

Call for the Abolition of Indentured Labour in Assam, 1900

A Recruiter's License, Malaysia, 1902

Extract from the Proceedings of the Imperial Legislative Council, 1912