Dawn in darkest AfricaHarris, John H. (John Hobbis)
History
Dawn in darkest Africa
Harris, John H. (John Hobbis)
Africa, West; Africa, West -- Description and travel; Ethnology -- Africa, West; Slavery -- Africa, West
First the delinquent is summoned to answer the charge of idling without
visible means of support; then the paternal authorities are to read him
a homily on “moral education,” and forthwith despatch him to a place
where work is waiting for him. If he still refuses to work he may be sent
to “correctional labour.” There he will receive food and lodging and
be given one-third the market rate of wages. “Correctional labourers”
may, according to Section 58, be hired out by private persons upon the
same terms as the prisoners of State. Such persons willing to employ
“correctional labourers” are requested to make formal application, but
only those are eligible to receive such labourers who have never been
convicted in any court. If they receive such labourers a given sum _per
capita_ must be paid to the State and a fine of £20 paid for any shortage
in “returns” alive or dead, the number hired out must be returned to the
Authorities. If, however, escape is feared, the correctional labourers
may be returned to State prisons each night.
If the whole ordinance is to be applied to the Portuguese colonies in a
measure of completeness hitherto foreign to the Portuguese possessions,
then there is some hope that even the leopard may be able to change his
spots.
[Sidenote: HUMAN VALUES]
There is little likelihood that the Portuguese land laws will be rendered
effective on the spot, especially when we remember that many thousands
of miles throughout which such laws are intended to operate are not yet
under any sort of administrative control. The step which is finding most
favour in British West African colonies is that of declaring all lands,
whether occupied or not, as native land under some sort of ultimate
trusteeship of the Governor for the benefit of the natives. No purpose
can be served by denying that this would place very large powers in the
hands of a single individual, even though the powers so conferred may
only be exercised “in accordance with native law and custom.” It would
beyond question give to the Governor powers which in the hands of some
individuals might be exceedingly dangerous.
The majority of British Governors of Crown colonies could undoubtedly be
allowed to supersede the paramount chiefs in every respect, providing
the constitution of the Crown colonies permitted the bringing into full
play of this one vital condition, viz. that his actions would always be
“in accordance with native law and custom,” but Crown Colony government
excludes at present any form of representative government which is the
unwritten law of every African tribe.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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