Just for reference in the context of all this, the term "coolie" has been used in different ways.

"kulli" is an Indian term for a porter, like especially people who work carrying baggage. There is nothing derogatory about it.

By extension, I'd guess, English speakers started calling other stevedore-types "coolies," like in Harlow's mention of the guys in Java that Barry mentioned.

Then the indentured laborers from Asia --Indians in the Caribbean, Mauritius, Fiji, and Chinese in American (railroad). Not a very nice term.

In the Caribbean present, it means a Creolized Indian - derogatory term.