Chinese In New Hebrides

PEOPLE who visit the New Hebrides nowadays are a little surprised when they land in Vila to see the number of Chinese about. It is not generally known that the Chinese have obtained a footing in the Condominium.

It appears that some time ago the British yacht “Euphrosyne” was wrecked and .the members of the Chinese crew, instead of being repatriated, were allowed to settle in Vila, where they became traders storekeepers, gardeners, etc They found Vila to be a pleasant and profitable place, and in due course, they were instrumental in bringing out from South China a number of their countrymen. The result is that, to-day, there is at one end of Vila, quite a considerable Chinese community. There are several Chinese stores, a number of Chinese tradesmen, and several market gardeners.

The latter have been a boon to Vila — the Chinese produce excellent fresh vegetables which they sell to the European community. The Chinese now have their own club in Vila.

There are no Chinese women—the Chinese, like the Japanese there, marry native women and there are numerous half-caste children. In the streets of Vila one may see not only British and French, but also Tonkinese (brought in as indentured labour by the French), Japanese, Chinese, natives, and several hybrid products of the different races, The Europeans in Vila state that the Chinese community is industrious and law-abiding; but, knowing the ways of Chinese, they fear that the time is corn ing when Chinese traders will spread throughout the Group and make life even more difficult for the Europeans, The British regard the arrival and es tablishment of the Chinese with bitter feelings. British planters have been vir tually driven out of the Group because their Government would not allow them to bring in indentured labour; yet the same authorities have allowed the Chinese to come in and establish them selves in the manner described.