Cane Reapers is the story about the Chinese who were procured to replace the emancipated slaves on the sugar plantations of Guyana (then British Guiana). Following China's defeat by Britain in the Opium Wars in the 1840s the European powers, and Spain in particular, began a recruitment drive to obtain Chinese labourers for their colonies. This was executed using all manner of methods ranging from subtle inducement to kidnapping. Numerous abuses arose from this trade in human cargo and Britain later set up local emigration depots aimed at enlisting willing emigrants, with some degree of success. Between 1853 and 1879 a total of 13,541 indentured labourers arrived in British Guiana from China but by 1900 the resident Chinese population was down to 3,000 mainly because only 15% of the Chinese immigrants were females. The Chinese endured many tribulations both in the journey and after arrival in the new land. In the process of assimilation into Western culture some unique names have evolved for Chinese families, creating both a mystery and a topic of fascination for their descendants and for genealogists.
Cane Reapers, 2nd revised edition (2003), has 352 pages, including 36 pages of illustrations, and is published by Cane Press.
Chapter 1 Labour's Love Lost * The end of slavery * New immigrants * Massa day done * Trying to stay in the black * Orientals from the East * Orientals from the West
Chapter 2 China and the Barbarians * 1834 for a start * The opium trade * The Napier fisaco * Clampdown on opium * Commissioner Lin takes charge * Igniting the powder keg * Expedition to Peiho * The Ch'uan-Pi Convention * Treaty of Nanking * Postwar period * Open Canton * Treaty of Tientsin * Taku repulse * Conventions of Peking * Taiping rebellion
Chapter 3 Chinese Take-Out * Coming and going * Coolies to go * Crimping methods * Initial experiences * All at sea * Death and disaster * Cuba and Peru * Regulating the coolie trade * Convention on emigration * Coolie trade at Macao
Chapter 4 Demerara Bound * Visions in the hot sun * First immigrants * White's third encounter * Second wave * Pursuing Chinese women * First ladies * Emigration increases * The season of 1861-62 * Hincks becomes governor * Revival 1864-66 * Convention agreements * Arrival of the Corona * Free immigration * The last shipment
Chapter 5 Working on the Plantation * Making an impression * Adjusting to local conditions * Recruitment and distribution * Odd men out * Taking out the driver * Work habits * Slow boat to China
Chapter 6 A Walk in the Dark * A word of caution * Plantains * Other dishes * Murder * Class conflict * Mulling the motive * Suicide * Robbery * Cream collar crime * Opium * Targets * Innocents * Going to court * Respected citizens
Chapter 7 Becoming Creole * The new environment * Thought for food * Health * Family considerations * Causes of death * Recreation * Opium and gambling * In the eyes of the beholder * Social interactions * Christian influences * Church building
Chapter 8 The Shepherd and Hopetown * O. Tye Kim arrives * A Chinese settlement proposed * A town for Hope * Flight of the shepherd * Hopetown carries on * The decline of Hopetown
Chapter 9 Going Further Afield * Becoming free * Sugar technologists * Travels to Trinidad * Sauntering to Surinam * Sailing to St. Lucia * The settlers * Getting down to business * Growing in Georgetown * Blooming in Berbice * Country shops * Property purchases * The second generation * Gaining a higher education
Chapter 10 Name Calling * Chinese characters * Translation troubles * Dash it all * What-A-Name * Anglicized names * Lineage charts * Name list * Going international
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Cane Ripples is a sequel to Cane Reapers and describes the experiences of the Chinese in Guyana, presented in the form of short stories about individuals and families in their working and recreational lives.
Cane Ripples is a 352-page book with 85 illustrations, published by Cane Press.
Dr. Vibert C. Cambridge, Chair of the Department of African American Studies at Ohio University, writes:
Cane
Ripples is
an integrated work that expresses the joy and pains experienced by a vital
sector of Guyanese society during the 20th century. . . It
uses oral histories, personal recollections, photographs, and archival materials
to illuminate an important aspect of Guyana’s complex history. . .
Story 1: Lay of the Land Story 2: Entrepreneurial Spirit Story 3: Fireworks
Story 4: Down by the Riverside Story 5: Mixed Marriage Story 6: Bearing Fruit
Story 7: Wheeling Along Story 8: Path to Education Story 9: Outdoorsman
Story
10:
Dry Goods Shop
Story 11: Baker’s Man Story 12: Hand
Laundry
Story 13: Bee Queen Story 14: Rice Milling Story 15: Comings
Story 16: Goings Story 17: Ghost Story Story 18: Dental Practice
Story 19: Chinese Merchant Story 20: Best Little Whorehouse Story 21: Broadcasting Ace
Story 22: Chinese Lessons Story 23: Drug Store Story 24: Short Cuts
Story 25: Rice Grader Story 26: Laws and Lows Story 27: Sound Effects
Story 28: Vision and Service Story 29: Commission Agent & Hairdresser Story 30: Cookshop, Cakeshop
Story 31: Taking a Count Story 32: Country Doctor Story 33: Good Sport
Story 34: Community Spirit Story 35: Piloting the Way Story 36: Family Jewels
Story 37: Overseer Story 38: District Commissioner Story 39: Life on the Plantation
Contributors: Ada Akai, Irene Akai (née Sue-Ping), Bob Chee-A-Tow, Godfrey Chin, James Chow, Marlene Crawford (née Kwok), David Foo, Jennifer P. Foo, Elaine Fung-A-Ling, Rita Graham (née Cheong), Alvin Hugh, Ulex Hugh (née Phang), Gladys Kissoon (née Lee), Andy Lee (née Lam), Vivian Lee, Harvey Lou-Hing, Louis Low, Michaele Low-A-Chee (née Young), Neville Luck, Jerry Manson-Hing, Joe Pierre, Arif Rayman, Alice Singh (née Loo), Barney Singh, Ruby Sue-A-Quan (née Lou-Hing), Trev Sue-A-Quan, Donald Tang, Grace Ten-Pow (née Young-Ping), Leonard Ten-Pow, Mike U-Ming, Phoebe Wong (née Kon Sue), Roy V. Wong, Sandra Wong-Moon (née Ho-Sing-Loy), Esther Yhap (née Chan), Lawrence Yhap, Helena Young-Ping (née Wong)
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Vancouver, B.C. V5W 1N1,
Canada.
Cane Press publications are available through the following local distributors with
potential savings in mailing costs:
Toronto area (North York): Distinguished Travel, 1315 Lawrence
Avenue East, Unit 517, North York, Ontario, M3A 3R3. Tel: (416) 444-3822; Fax:
(416) 444-7782; Toll-free 1-800-668-9289
Toronto area (Scarborough): Dr. Gregory Wong, Dynasty Centre, 8 Glen Watford Drive, Unit 50, Scarborough, Ontario M1S 2C1. Tel: (416) 297-6766.
Guyana: Margaret Chan-A-Sue, 56 Coralita Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown, Tel: 65298 or 50876.
Barbados: Bernard Perkins, Earndale, Belmont Road, St. Michael, Barbados. Tel: 4266451.
Trinidad: Paper Based, Hotel Normandie, 10 Nook Avenue, St. Anns, Port of Spain, Trinidad. Tel: (868) 625-3197. E-mail: jdayal@carib-link.net
Jamaica: Nigel Ho-Yow, P.O. Box 3389, Constant Spring Post Office, Kingston 8, Jamaica. Tel: (876)
969-4685 (Home) or (876) 749-4055/2767. E-mail: nigelhoyow@hotmail.com
London and Europe: Davin Lee, 49 Springdale Road, London N16 9NS, U.K. Tel:
0207 503 6338. The price in London is £13.50.
Melbourne and Oceania: Dawn Noon, 352 Glenfern Road, Upwey, Victoria 3158, Australia. Tel:
(04) 39080960; Fax: (03) 97542656. The price in Melbourne is
A$32.00.
Singapore and the Far East: John Ewing-Chow, 38 Saunders Road, Singapore 228274. Tel:
65-67376046; Fax: 65-62350293. The price in Singapore is S$36.00.
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This website page was updated on 8 December 2003
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