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Population in 1885
Captain Snell was the first
long-tour Assistant Resident Perim. One of his first
tasks was to submit a population return; it is an
interesting document as it lists all the British
employees of the Coal Company by name and function. In
early February 1885, that is within 18 months of the
Coal Company coming to Perim, the population had
increased from the 149 of the 1881 census to 820,
distributed at follows:
|
Department or Location |
Europeans |
Non-Europeans |
|
Perim Fort |
4 |
|
|
Living outside the fort |
60 |
28 |
|
Commissariat Contractor |
|
5 |
|
Public Works Dept |
|
25 |
|
Commissariat Dept |
|
10 |
|
Condensing Establishment |
|
18 |
|
Lighthouse Establishment |
|
34 |
|
Perim Coal Company |
30 |
606 |
All the above except for those listed under Perim Coal
Company would have been living on ‘Government Side’, the
majority in Meyun. The 28 ‘living outside the fort’ were
presumably those not in government employment, mainly
families.
The four Europeans at the Fort were
Captain Snell, his wife and one child and a Miss Gordon
who was listed as having no occupation. She was
therefore possibly a house guest rather than a nanny.
Captain Snell had five servants. The Jemadar commanding
the detachment had his wife with him at the fort. Also
living in the fort was Mr George, the apothecary, and
presumably Eurasian. Amongst those in the immediate
vicinity of the fort were three traders and the
interpreter and his family of five. The engineer in
charge of the lighthouse was an Indian. The 30 Europeans
on Company Side were:
-
Captain Squire (Managing
Agent), Mrs Squire plus five children and an English
nurse.
-
Mr Prosser (Harbour Master)
-
Mr Hooper (Assistant Harbour
Master)
-
Mr Hicks (Builder)
-
Mr Swan (Clerk)
-
Dr Stopford (Medical Officer)
-
Mr Shand (Manager’s Clerk)
-
Signor Borea (Italian visitor)
-
Captain Duncan (Pilot)
-
Mr Watson (Assistant Pilot)
-
Mr Pascal (Able Seaman)
-
Mr Bain (Coaling
Superintendent)
-
Mr McGregor (Chief Engineer)
-
Mr Morris (2nd Engineer)
-
Mr Ramsey (3rd Engineer)
-
Mr Thompson (Storekeeper)
-
Mr Jones (Blacksmith), Mrs
Jones and four children
-
Mr Briggs (Signaller i/c
Flagstaff)
This gives a total of 17 European
Company staff. The non-European staff were from nine
nationalities. The seven Chinese were the seven
carpenters; the fitter and the 12 rivetters were all
Indian. There were seven Goanese: two butlers, two
cooks, the baker, the storekeeper’s assistant and an
office clerk. The coolies numbered 413, about two thirds
of whom were Arabs, one sixth Dankalis and the others
Somalis or Seedees.
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