The following is part of a reply from the PRO on the East Indians to the West Indies The biographical information relating to indenture labourers can be found in the Colonial Office: West Indies original correspondence in record series reference of the National Archives (TNA) PRO CO 318. It contains specific sections devoted to Indian labour and migration to the West Indies for the period 1843 to 1873; these are continued in (TNA): PRO CO 323 and later in the Immigration Department records (TNA): PRO CO 571 for the period 1913-1920. From the 1870's the records of the Land Board and Emigration Department (TNA): PRO CO 384-CO 386 with registers in (TNA): PRO CO 428) are concerned with emigration to the West Indies and include information on Indian migrant labour. The (TNA): PRO CO 384 and (TNA): PRO CO 385 includes surgeon's reports sometimes give details of the births and deaths of Indians on the ships. Only first names of the Indian labourers have been noted in these records. These are not complete. There is no name index to these records, therefore searching for information on individuals are extremely difficult. Emigration agents were appointed in India to recruit labourers. The indenture labourers had to fill the contract of service forms. It is possible that the records created by these agents if they had survived may be found in the State Archives of India. In India, the ports of Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras were the main platforms used to transport the labourers to colonies. Please contact the appropriate State Archives in India if you know, the origin of their place from which they left to St Lusia. The State archives addresses are as follows. Government of West Bengal State Archives 6, Bhowani Dutta Lane Kolkatta (Calcutta)- 700 007 India Tamil Nadu State Archives 28/29, Gandhi-Irwin Road Egmore Chennai - 600 008 Tamil Nadu India Telephone +91 (0)44 825 43 38 Fax +91 (0)44 825 60 47 http://www.tanap.net/archives/archives/tamil.htm Mumbai Archives, Department of Archives, Government of Maharashtra, 156,Elphinstone College Building, M.G. Road, Fort Mumbai - 400032. India. Phone No: 0091-22-2843971, 0091-22-2844268 Fax no: 0091-22-2844268 Because of our very limited resources of staff and time, and the nature of the material in question, we are unable to undertake research for you. If you are able to visit the office in person, we are happy to advise you further on this subject There is much information about the records and the services we provide available on our web site at http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk If you are unable visit the office, you may care to hire an Independent Researcher to do the work on your behalf. A list of researchers who undertake family history research can be printed from our website. To do this, please follow the link to http://www.pro.gov.uk/research/irlist/default.htm I trust this information will be of assistance to you Yours sincerely Abi Husainy (Ms) Research and Editorial Services Department