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All but 20 of those children have white, mothers. Only 12
of the mothers are coloured, 2 of these being ha11-caste. There are
75 families. 61 of the children have Indian fathers (33 families),
71 Colonial (39 families), and 4, fathers of other origin. 12 of the
Colonial children are pure-bred and are 7 West African and 4 Malayan.
Employment of the Resident Coloured Persons.
Of the 252 resident coloured men, 80% are seamen or are working
in .connection with local cafes run for the coloured population.
20% work for the building trade and other occupations such as
tailoring and stokers in factories and gasworks.
The -coloured seamen work in ships' engine rooms as firemen,
greasers, donkey-men, etc.' It is said they are good workers.
In peace-time a number of resident coloured men obtained casual
employment in "crowd" scenes in film studios in ana around London.
A small number were and are still employed in restaurants in the
"Test End, more obtained employment in Stepney as messengers and
carriers for tailoring firms. Others, usually of tho Sikh tribe,
took up hawking on their own account and travelled the country with
suit-cases of "Indian" scarves, shawls, stockings, etc., or were
employed by small firms to do this work. During the war this trade
has temporarily ceased.
(2) THE FLOATING COLOURED POPULATION
The floating population of coloured men depends on the number
of ships in tho docks, recently, owing to the war, less than the
normal number. At the time of this survey the average daily floating
population numbered approximately 298 but 150 of these were U.S.A.
negro soldiers on leave from camps in England, and a few coloured
men from Dutch 3hips who spent their free time here.
Employment of Floating Coloured Population.
Tho floating population of coloured men are usually employed
as seamen and work in ships' engine rooms as firemen, greasers,
donkey-men, etc. Sometimes, often following prolcged absence from
duty because of sickness, these men cease to act as seamen and
become absorbed into the resident coloured population.
(3) HOSTELS, CAFES AND CLUBS
Hostels, caf6s and clubs exist in the area and are patronised
both by resident and casual coloured men.
Hostels.
Of tho seven licenced hostels for seamen in the neighbourhood,
three only are used by the coloured men to any extent. The latter
are small hostels and have little accommodation. They are used by
not more than 50 Indians and 15 coloured Colonials. A few coloured
men stay in common lodging houses, but the majority live with the
resident coloured population in various rooms and small houses in
the area under review.
Cafes.
There are about 32 cafes patronised by resident and casual
coloured men (including U.S.A. negroes on leave), nearly all in the
south-western area of the Borough. The coloured men use these cafes
not only for meals, but as resting places during the day and ths
evening, Sometimes, though no often, rooms over the cafe premises
are used for sleeping.
The coloured cafc-s are features of the neighbourhood that
cannot be missed by anyone walking through the district. They are
usually run by coloured men or men from Malta who live abd work in
close contact with the coloured population. The coloured men use
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