This is primarily the story about the Norwegian ship Constantin which was caught up in an international network of trade with migrant Chinese workers known as coolies. Constantin belonged to a partnership of owners (partsrederi), a kind of ownership that was common in Norwegian shipping as far as sailing vessels were concerned. Part-owners in Constantin were Jens Amundsen (father of the famous polar explorer Roald Amundsen)and two of his brothers who each owned 1/6 of the ship, while P. Anker in Fredrikshald had a smaller part, but he was the managing owner (”korresponderende reder”). There were also other part owners. In 1866 Constantin sailed from Macao to Havana in 103 days with 295 Chinese “coolies”. 16 of them died during the passage which the captain considered fortunate because he thought it was a moderate number. Initially Constantin´s captain referred to them as ”passengers” when he sent a letter informing the managing owner about the matter.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- The origin and development of labour migration from China to Cuba
- Norwegian shippers and the "Treaty Ports"?
- Constantin in far eastern waters prior to the voyage from Macao to Havana
- The passage to Havana
- How profitable was the coolie transport to the shippers?
- Discussion and Conclusion
- References (printed sources)
- Primary sources
- Electronic sources
- Illustrations
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This study explores the voyage of the Norwegian ship Constantin from Macao to Havana in 1866, focusing on its involvement in the international coolie trade. The work aims to investigate the motives behind the ship's participation in this trade, analyze the attitudes of the sailors towards the Chinese workers, and assess the profitability of the coolie trade for the Norwegian shippers.
- The historical context and development of coolie migration from China to Cuba
- The role of Norwegian shipping in the coolie trade
- The experiences of the Chinese workers on board the Constantin
- The profitability and ethical implications of the coolie trade
- The historical significance of the mutiny on board the Constantin
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The introduction establishes the historical context of the Constantin's voyage, highlighting the ship's involvement in the coolie trade and the mutiny that occurred on board. It introduces the key research questions that will be addressed in the study.
Chapter 2 delves into the origin and development of labor migration from China to Cuba, providing an overview of the coolie trade within a global context. It draws upon existing literature to present the historical context and the experiences of Chinese workers in Cuba.
Chapter 3 examines the role of Norwegian shippers in the coolie trade, exploring their adaptation to this special market and the opportunities it offered. It analyzes the involvement of Norwegian shippers in the trade and their relationship with the Chinese workers.
Chapter 4 focuses on the Constantin's journey from Macao to Havana, tracing its route and the events leading up to the mutiny. It provides an interpretation of the mutiny and explores the balance sheet drawn up by the captain after the ship's arrival in Havana.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The keywords for this work are: coolie trade, Norwegian shipping, Constantin, Chinese labor migration, Cuba, Havana, Macao, mutiny, historical context, profitability, ethics, primary sources, international trade, and social history.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the "coolie trade" in the 19th century?
The coolie trade involved the international transport of migrant Chinese workers, often under harsh conditions, to labor-intensive regions like Cuba or Peru.
What is the significance of the ship Constantin?
The Constantin was a Norwegian ship that transported 295 Chinese workers from Macao to Havana in 1866, during which a mutiny occurred on board.
Who were the owners of the ship Constantin?
The ship was owned by a partnership including Jens Amundsen (father of Roald Amundsen) and his brothers, with P. Anker as the managing owner.
How many Chinese workers died during the voyage?
16 out of the 295 "coolies" died during the 103-day passage, a number the captain considered "moderate" at the time.
Why did Norwegian shippers participate in this trade?
Norwegian shippers were looking for profitable opportunities in far eastern waters and adapted to the special market demands of the "Treaty Ports."
What were the ethical implications discussed in the study?
The study analyzes the attitudes of sailors towards the Chinese workers and the moral conflict of viewing humans as "passengers" while treating them as tradable labor assets.
- Quote paper
- Sten F. Vedi (Author), 2014, From Macao to Havana, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/272168
