CHINESE ON THE RAND

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 62, 10 September 1904, Page 13

CHINESE ON THE RAND

Correspondents in Johannesburg of London newspapers furnish accounts of the arrival there of ihG first batch<js of Chinese labourers, imported for wbrk in tho mines. The first lot consisted of 299 men, tho second of 1049, and special trains had been provided to run the coolies into their own compound, so that they had nothing to do but wnlk out of tho cars into the hute which were waiting for them. A few hours later they were nil at work in tho Comet Mine. Iho orderly behaviour of the men caused a good deal of comment. Tho etrnngenos* of their surroundings did not seem to affect them. They unpacked their scanty bnggttgo, put their sleeping mats in their bunks, and wero straightway at home. Next they proceeded to oat their evening meal with every symptom of contentment. So far as their physique was concerned, the general verdict wus that it was not remarkable, but of good solid quality. Some nnxiety hns been caused by outbreaks of beri-beri among tho coolies, but tho doctors say that tho disease is not likely to establish itself in a high, dry climate, such ns that on the Rand.