VII-"The Kanaka Labour Traffic" - J.D. Melvin - The Argus

"Our Representative on a Recruiting Schooner; Death of a 'Return'; A Large Number of Recruits Obtained"

Byline: J. D. Melvin; 1892-12-10; The Argus; pages 10

Report: "The Kanaka Labor Traffic" - J.D. Melvin - The Argus

Tags: blackbirding, labor, Queensland, slavery, worked as sailor

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Poor Oleseemar, the consumptive return, was now within a dozen miles of his home.  He had wasted steadily from day to day in spite of nourishing food and medicine.  At Maron Sound he crawled to the poop for an airing and asked for some tea.  He was always supplied with whatever he fancied in the way of food, and tea with biscuit was what he liked best.

Description:The sixth article in The Argus' series "The Kanaka Labour Traffic" by J.D. Melvin about his time spent as a crew member on the blackbirding vessel The Helena sent to recruit laborers from the the Solomon Islands.

Rights: Public domain.

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An article titled, "Our Representative on a Recruiting Schooner; Death of a 'Return'; A Large Number of Recruits Obtained." Written as part of the series "The Kanaka Labour Traffic" by J.D. Melvin.