594 THE NATIVES IN THE LARGER TOWNS. 



At that period the restraints provided by their Native laws 

 and customs were of more force than they are to-day, and the 

 liquor problem was unknown. 



One of the first of the by-laws found necessary for Natives 

 was that of the Curfew or Nine O'clock Bell — a police regulation, 

 which even in more rig-orous form (the bell ring-ing at sunset) 

 was applicable to our own ancestors till the reign of Henry I. 



Among others of the old by-laws one required the Natives to 

 be clothed from neck to knee — in expiation of the sin of our first 

 parents — whilst another forbade the Native custom of ukuqo- 

 misa, a practice favoured by young men (and doubtless attribut- 

 able to the " old Adam " in their nature) of impeding the progress 

 of a female to compel her to choose a lover from those standing 

 before her. 



Pass System. 



The system of requiring Natives in the towns to carry passes 

 or to be registered as servants did not come into vogue until their" 

 employment in large numbers at labour centres had demonstrated 

 the difficulties of identification and general control. 



Under a Griqualand West Proclamation in 1874, all contracts 

 4>i service on the diamond fields, in respect of European and other 

 servants, had to be registered, and a fee of one shilling each oaid 

 therefor. The servant was required to carry, and produce on 

 demand, a certificate of registration. 



Subsequently under the Mining Law in the Transvaal a 

 somewhat similar provision applying exclusively to Native 

 labourers made it obligatory for every Native to carry a one 

 shilling pass renewable monthly by the employer. The revenue 

 so produced was for many years applied to hospital purposes. 



From the year 1895, in addition to the raising of revenue, the 

 Pass Law for the Transvaal goldfields, in its amended form, was 

 applied to repress Native vagrancy and facilitate the control and 

 regulation of Native labourers. 



Li modified form it has been extended to the urban areas of 

 the Transvaal and Orange Free State. 



A system of Native registration under Natal Law 21, of 

 1888, was introduced in the larger Natal towns in 1891. and was 

 subsequently allowed to fall into desuetude, but Native lawless- 

 ness became so positive a menace in IQ16 that registration had to 

 be reintroduced, and the town Natives are now under better 

 •control. 



Town Councils in the four Provinces of the Union are all 

 empowered to set apart urban locations for occupation by Natives. 

 In the Cape Province, excepting in the cases of Kingwilliamstown, 

 'Ndabeni, and New Brighton Locations. Natives cannot be com- 

 pelled to reside in the areas set apart. Li Natal, the Transvaal 

 and Orange Free State this necessary power is conferred upon the 

 Town Councils. 



In the Cape, Natal, and Orange Free State Provinces by-laws 

 for Native locations may be made by the Town Councils, but in 

 the Transvaal thev are framed by the Governor. 



