HUMMIJELDI AUGUSTO PEREIRA RODRIQUES, The Superintendent of the Chinese Emigration to Viscount San Juanario, August 30, 1872

Most Excellent and Illustrious Sir: In obedience to your excellency’s orders I proceeded to enable myself, by the books of this superintendency, to have the honor to inform your excellency with regard to what relates to the Chinese, Mopin, Akun, Apon, Achon, Sampon, Ak-Kay, Akun, No. 176, affidavit Nos. 182 and 187, Sum-hoy, said to have been embarked on board the Peruvian bark Maria Luz, dispatched from this port on the 29th of May last, with two hundred and twenty-five Chinese coolies for Peru, and put into Japan on the 9th of July last.

Neither in the books of this superintendency nor of the deposits I caused to be brought to this department to be duly examined can I find the names mentioned above. But I can assure your excellency that in conformity with the regularities of the emigration from the port of Macao no coolies could have embarked in the Maria Luz that was not minutely examined in the superintendency; consequently it shows the bad faith of these coolies; and no reliance should be placed on their statements, as they either gave false names in this department when they were examined, or are doing so now in the tribunal of Japan where they are being interrogated. The Nos. 176, 182, 187, Afat Sum-hoy, are in the books of this department, and of the deposit designated by the letter L, of which is charged the assistant José Bernardino with the names of Sotung and Chan-sen-hoy, and the 182, that has no name, is in the same books with that of Holay.

The coolies embarked in the said bark were interrogated in this superintendency, proceeding with the formality with all of them as follows:

During the days that they appeared at this superintendency, the contracts were read and explained to them in the three Chinese dialects—Puntis, Aka, and Chenchin; and made one zone in the office of the superintendency publicly, and in the dialect spoken by each of them the following questions: If they wanted to emigrate? If they knew where they were going to emigrate? (if not, it is explained to them.) If they knew the conditions of the contracts? (explaining and removing their doubts should there be any.) If they had been deceived or ill treated? telling them that they can, without fear, declare if they had been ill-treated or deceived, and assuring them the protection of the government until their distribution in case they should not wish to emigrate. This is all I have to say on the subject, and I hope having so satisfied the masters of your excellency.

God preserve your excellency.