Publisher's Synopsis
Between 1846 and 1874, over 290,000 Chinese were embarked as indentured labourers destined mainly for Peru, Cuba and the British, French and Dutch West Indies. The demand for labour was high and, when demand outran the initial willing supply, trickery and misrepresentation - even kidnapping - came to be used in obtaining recruits. Authorities in the ports of departure introduced legislation to counter abuses. Receiving countries also introduced legislation related to imported labour. In this study, John Asome provides data on 732 voyages and commentary on a good number of these.
