In time a small community of Asian sailors grew up in Britain, especially in the East End of London and other major seaport towns: Cardiff, Glasgow and Liverpool. Indian seamen represented 20% of the British maritime labour force, a figure that rose to 26% by 1938.

In the 1930s, a lascar deserter would normally go to live at one of the Indian lodging houses of East London - a popular one was The Stranger's Home - and would eventually become a pedlar. The deserter seamen applied to the High Commissioner for India for proof of identity, to enable him to apply for a pedlar's certificate, which would be given as a reference to the lodging house proprietor. If the certificate was refused, the man would not be kept long at the lodging house and could be sent to the local workhouse.

Some lascar seamen who were destitute in London had applied for relief from the Poplar Institution. Some were living at this institution in the 1930s. It is possible that relevant records may be found in the:
Tower Hamlets Local History Library and Archives
277 Bancroft Road
London E1 4DQ

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