Eight Manuscript Ship Manifests of Chinese Laborers Departing Macao for Havana.

Although the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade was largely enforced by Great Britain and the US after 1808, it continued for decades later in the Caribbean and South America. It is estimated that nearly one-quarter of all Africans forced into the transatlantic trade were transported after the 1807-1808 bans, primarily to Brazil and Cuba. Although it was technically illegal following a treaty between Spain and Britain in 1817, the slave trade flourished in Cuba until the 1850s and wasn’t truly banned until 1867, following the US Civil War. 

As the Cuban slave trade quieted in the 1840s-1850s, a new low-cost labor force was required for the sugar plantations. The answer came in the form of Chinese indentured laborers who signed long-term contracts (sometimes involuntarily) to work in Cuba under conditions that were almost indistinguishable from those of enslaved peoples. Though their legal status was distinct from the enslaved, with some limited legal protections and rights, they were considered the property of their employers for the duration of their contract and (often forced) recontracted terms. 

An estimated 125,000 Chinese traveled to Cuba between 1847 and 1874, when the Chinese government prohibited further immigration because of abuses. The majority of these laborers were recruited by force, shipped from Macao in boats that had been repurposed from the transatlantic slave trade, and held in depots upon arrival until they were contracted (i.e. ‘sold’). 

The present manifests were prepared in Macao and signed by the Consular General of Spain in China, with some additions made before disembarking their passengers in Havana. They list the Chinese names of the colonos and their age, most also list some details regarding origin, profession, and “christian” name, as well as marking those that died during passage (at least one listing the cause of death).  Five of the eight are on pre-printed ledgers, three are fully manuscript. Differences in language, spelling, papers, and information collected speak to the international nature of the Chinese forced labor market.

Comprised of:

1. [Lista de los colonos que fueron embarcados en China a bordo de la fragata portuguesa nombrada “Nina” su capitán “S…?” llegado a esta puerto el día ocho del presente mes, á la consignación de los Sres. Lombillo Montalbo y Cia donde se expresan los que han fallecido durante la travesía y las causas de las defunciones]. 30.5 x 20 cm, 12 pp. pre-printed and completed in manuscript, listing 550 passengers of which 30 are “deducted” from the final total because they died during the passage, from reported illness. Christian names issued in alphabetical groups, beginning with “A”. Toned, some minor splitting on old creases, a bit of edgewear, but remarkably legible. Signed and dated 8 de Marzo, 1867 on the final page.

2. [Nomenclatura de 366 Colonos Chinos embarcados em la barca francesa St. Joseph., Capitan J. Ronsecion (?) con destino a la Habana. Macao Noviembre 1 1864]. 41 x 26.6 cm, 3 pp., two large manuscript ledger leaves without pre-printed column titles listing 363 names, ages, and job. The job column is mostly empty (assuming general manual labor) but a few list specialized skills including tailors, a shoemaker, a carpenter, and a painter. Signed and dated 1 Nov. 1864. Each leaf folded twice, fragile, second leaf with some losses at upper edge and tape repairs.

3. [Nomenclatura de 210 Colonos que sigam a viagem para Havana a bordo da la galera francesa “Mayotte Nossibé” Capitão L. Beliard]. 41 x 22.5 cm, 4 pp., two large manuscript ledger leaves, listing 210 names in 2 columns per page with names, age, place of birth, and profession (filled in as “Cully). Signed and countersigned?, dated Macao, 24 de Octubre de 1865. Toned with irregular folds, creases fragile or splitting.  

4. [Nomenclatura dos Colonos embarcados abordo do Navio Francesa [illegible name?] de Macao para Havana]. Folded: 33 x 21 cm, 15 pp., four large pre-printed ledger leaves folded into 8, completed in manuscript and listing 500 names, age, and origin. Signed and dated 10 jan 1868. Some dampstaining and splitting at folds.

5. [Nomenclatura dos Colonos embarcados abordo do Navio Nelly despachado de Macao para Havana em 28 de Novbr. 1867]. 33 x 20.5 cm, 13 pp., seven pre-printed blue ledger leaves, lined, completed in manuscript, listing 444 names, age, and origin. Signed and dated 28 Nov 1867 and 2 Dec 1867 (the latter by the General Consul of Spain in China). Some edgewear and discreet taping to hold the group together.

6. [Nomenclatura de 324 Colonos embarcados abordo de la barca francesa Medoc, Capt. A. Dateil. Macao, Sept 29, 1864]. 40 x 27 cm, 3 pp., two large manuscript ledger leaves without pre-printed column titles listing 323 names (not 324) and ages. Eight of the names marked with a “null” symbol usually denoting death on the passage. Signed and dated by the General Consul of Spain in China, 1 Oct. 1864. Each leaf folded twice, very fragile, some tape repairs.

7. [EMIGRACIÓN CHINA PARA LA ISLA DE CUBA. Estado nominativo de los culis embarcados a bordo de Guadalupe Capitan R. Manhos(?)]. 35 x 20.5 cm, 6 pp., three pre-printed ledger leaves, completed in manuscript, listing the names and ages of 456 colonos. The pre-printed number from the column “Número que llega el Cooly” was used on succeeding identification forms. Signed with stamps from the General Consul of Spain in China. Macao 19 Diciembre de 1864. Each leaf folded at the bottom, folds fragile and splitting. 

8. [EMIGRACIÓN CHINA PARA LA ISLA DE CUBA. Estado nominativo de los Coolies embarcados a bordo de ________  Capitan __________ 185____]. 32.5 x 20.2 cm, 5 pp., three pre-printed ledger leaves, completed in manuscript (the heading incomplete), listing 416 names with ages. Signed and dated Macao 4 de Novembre del 1862 (an Italian ship or Italian captain?), counter signed and stamped by the Consul General of Spain in China. Small tape repairs and some tape used as a gathering. Significantly, official records indicate only 344 Chinese entering Cuba in 1862, and only 952 in 1863. These 416 would have been a substantial portion of that total.