passenger, noun

Origin:
EnglishShow more Special sense of general English.
historical
Usually attributive, often in the phrase passenger Indian. An Indian immigrant of the merchant class who came to South Africa independently, and not as an indentured labourer. See also Arab.
1907 V. Lawrence in Bhana & Pachai Documentary Hist. of Indian S. Africans 23Your petitioner is a passenger from India, resident in the borough of Durban, and is anxious to obtain a letter of exemption declaring him exempt from the operation of the laws affecting Indians.
1961 Z. Mayat Indian DelightsThe Gujeratis who alighted as ‘free’ or ‘passenger’ Indians, were on a higher economic rung.
1969 F. Meer Portrait of Indian S. AfricansFree or passenger Indians as they came to be called, followed in the wake of the indentured to Natal. But white colonists became alarmed by the competition offered by these merchants.
1981 N. Aiyer in Staffrider Vol.3 No.4, 5Some were indentured. Others were passenger immigrants. They came and they..toiled and they slaved.
1994 F. Meer on Radio South Africa 21 Aug.As well as the indentured labourers there was a very small community of what they called passenger Indians, people who had come to South Africa to try their luck.
Usually attributive, often in the phrase passenger Indian.An Indian immigrant of the merchant class who came to South Africa independently, and not as an indentured labourer.
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19071994
pass, nounn.pass law, noun phrasen. phr.
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