2. Moothen pleads for his wife to be returned

From the book: A Documentary History of Indian South Africans edited by Surendra Bhana and Bridglal Pachai

Moothen had the following letter written to the Protector of Indian Immigrants on 8 February 1875. Indentured Indians usually sought the help of the Protector in all legal and personal matters. The disproportion between men and women was a source of considerable bickering among male Indians, and, it has even been suggested, was an important reason for the high incidence of suicide among indentured Indians.Source: I.I./1/1, 71/1875, Natal Archives.

I have the honour humbly to bring to your notice that my wife Chinnamah whom I am married to for upwards of twenty-four years and by whom was born to me five children one of which is deceased and four left with me to look after, whilst my wife is living with another Indian named Theracumny. They are both living together about a mile and a half from Pietermaritzburg and my wife is conceived of a child by this Theracumny. I must state how my wife comes to live with this man. I having heard that she was living with him I went to give her advice and told her that she was not doing right towards me. She not heeding me but this Theracumny, and subsequently she deliberately and falsely went and complained to the magistrate of this division and there stated that I threatened to stab her with a knife. Subsequently the case was tried and I was bound over to keep the peace towards her for 6 months, which is now over a week... I did not break the peace towards her and she went and lived with this Theracumny and during this 6 months and a week I had to keep my four children, which is very hard seeing that I am a poor man.

Now sir, taking all these circumstances contained in this humble petition, I humbly leave it for your judgment and trust that my wife may be sent back to me.