Satyendra Peerthum
22 February 2008
Port Louis — 23rd February 2008 marks the 144th anniversary of the opening of the Vagrant Depot of Grand River as well as the 50th anniversary of its proclamation as a national monument by Governor Sir Robert Scott.
The Vagrant Depot is a symbol of the coercive laws which were enacted during the 19th century by the local British colonial government with the full support of the plantocracy in order to control the labour and mobility of the colony's indentured and non-indentured labourers. This important national monument stands as a constant reminder of the determination of these workers to resist and reject the oppressive labour laws, which were meant to regulate their working and living conditions. It is also a lieu de mémoire which exemplifies the 'shared history' of the different segments of the Mauritian population since many of the Vagrant Depot prisoners belonged to different ethnic groups.
The Mauritian Vagrants
The Vagrant Registers of the MGI Immigration Archives clearly show that between 1870 and 1910, dozens of labourers who were arrested and condemned as vagrants or deserters were local-born Mauritians. These vagrants were described in the archival records as "Creole of Mauritius" or simply as "Creole" and their ancestors came from India, Africa, Madagascar and China. During this period, these Mauritian vagrants were imprisoned at the Vagrant Depot and the Port Louis Prisons. In addition, some of them were sent to work with private employers for a period of one month. This can be seen in the case-studies of Ramalingum Andiapen and Soodee Sobee.
In July 1879, Ramalingum Andiapen, who was described as "a Creole Orphan" and 17 years old, was arrested for not having his pass in Port Louis and was imprisoned at the Vagrant Depot. A few days later, an inquiry by the Stipendiary Magistrate of Port Louis revealed that he was born in Mauritius on 1st February 1862. Andiapen was released from the Depot of Grand River and given a pass. He went to work for Mr. Martial at Grand River North West for a period of one month.
In July 1880, Sodee Sobee, who was described as a "Creole Mauritian of Indian descent", was condemned by the Stipendiary Magistrate of Moka to serve a sentence of one month at the Vagrant Depot. A few days later, the Stipendiary Magistrate ordered Sodee to serve out the rest of his sentence in the employment of Lutchmee, a carter who resided in Port Louis. Almost three weeks later, Lutchmee paid Sodee Sodee his wage and discharged him.
Ethnic Diversity
Between the 1870s and early 1900s, the majority of individuals who were arrested and condemned as vagrants or deserters were indentured and ex-indentured workers from India. However, the MGI Immigration Archives Vagrant Registers highlight the fact that some of the prisoners of the Grand River Depot came to Mauritius from different parts of the Indian Ocean such as Mozambique, Réunion Island and Aden, in present-day Yemen, located on the southern Arabian peninsula. The ethnic diversity of the Vagrant Depot prisoners can be seen through the case-studies of Mabrook, Comarsamy Majapadiachy and Ranoo.
In July 1879, Mabrook, "a Liberated African from Mozambique", was arrested as a vagrant. He was sentenced to serve one month at the Grand River Depot. After his period of forced servitude, the Special Magistrate of Port Louis approved his desire to be re-engaged with Mr. Nadeau, his first employer. During the early 1860s, Mabrook came to Mauritius and was processed at the Aapravasi Ghat or Immigration Depot as a 'Liberated African'. He was on board a slave ship which had been captured by the British Royal Navy and brought to Port Louis.
In October 1879, Comarsamy Majapadiachy, (Immigrant No.994 of Réunion) described as "a native of Réunion Island", was arrested as a vagrant in the district of Savanne. He was accused of having deserted the employment of Mr. Govinden, a carter from Souillac. Comarsamy spent several days at the Depot of Grand River and was ordered to serve an extra month in the employment of Mr. Govinden without any financial compensation. During the mid-1870s, Comarsamy came to Mauritius as an indentured worker from Réunion Island.
Between May and October 1883, Ranoo described as "a former indentured labourer from Aden", was condemned for vagrancy on two occasions in Port Louis. During the course of that year, he spent 5 months at the Vagrant Depot of Grand River. It is interesting to note that Ranoo came here as an indentured worker during the late 1850s.
The Vagrant Depot is the second most important indenture site in Mauritius after the Aapravasi Ghat and both sites reflect our country's rich and complex ethnic diversity. Furthermore, the life-stories and struggle of the vagrants or deserters of the Grand River North West Depot constitute a major chapter in the history of indenture in Mauritius. Therefore, these facts clearly highlight the heritage value of the Vagrant Depot which is being commemorated each year.
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