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The word "coolie" or "cooly" originally referred to workers who had a low-status in the society
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After slavery was outlawed by many European nations and the Slave Trade Act 1807 was enforced in the British Empire, there was a severe shortage of labor. So laborers were recruited mostly by trickery and deceit. Even outright kidnapping was not uncommon. Laborers for the British colonies were recruited by the colonial agents, who were helped by local recruiters. Though 10 men were sought to be recruited for every 4 females, very few women coolies could be recruited. It seems that the deterrents for recruiting women were overseas travel, deceit and allegations of kidnapping. Nonetheless, the word coolie was often used for all workers, especially manual ones at the bottom of the labor hierarchy. |
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© imagesofasia 2007-08 |
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