Captaincy of Rios de Senna. 53 



treating the slaves and colonists with great violence and in- 

 justice, — it cannot therefore be wondered ac that the popula- 

 tion decreases by frequent emigrations to the neighbouring 

 independent states, and that the ground is left without hands 

 to cultivate it. — The fourth cause may be ascribed to the 

 violent deportment and oppressive conduct of the Dominican 

 Friars, who as curates of the parishes in the Captaincy, 

 throw every obstacle in the way of matrimony, even in the 

 marriages of the poorest people, for the sole purpose of ex- 

 torting money, in every possible manner, however indecent, 

 unjust, and tyrannical. This will account for their debauch- 

 ery and immorality, many living in a state of open and pub- 

 lic concubinage rather than pay the exorbitant fees imposed 

 upon the marriage rites. Another abuse not less prejudicial 

 and inimical to the advance of population, is the suffering 

 these forced celibats to hold immense estates of crown lands, 

 which might afford ample establishments for numerous fami- 

 lies, whose children would spread over the country. These 

 lands are in the worst condition of any in the colony, many 

 of them laying quite waste, without inhabitants, who have 

 fled from the violence and oppression of their hard task- 

 masters: these are even more destructive to the welfare of 

 the state than absentee proprietors, since their immediate in- 

 terest so far from depending on agriculturing pursuits, rest 

 chiefly upon the fines imposed for crimes and absolutions, to 

 the utter ruin and destruction of the colonists. 



The second class of individuals, who compose the popula- 

 tion of the Captaincy, as I before said, is the slaves of both 

 sexes and all ages, employed in different sorts of labor, not all 

 of them of equal importance. Why the inhabitants derive so 

 little advantage from their numerous slaves, requires some 

 explanation. Many have from 5 to 600, and scarcely call a 

 third part of them into exertion; the remainder live in perfect 

 idleness, or are merely occupied in providing for their own 

 individual subsistence which requires but little labour in this 

 part of Africa. Hence arise the difficulties which occur in 

 training and discipling slaves not used to work, when provi- 

 sions fail them, as well as the numerous desertions which take 

 place, the number of run-aways being equal to those who 

 remain, as may be seen by the following table, shewing thd 

 quantity of slaves, as well present as absent, of both sexes 

 and all ages : Present. Absent. 



Slaves of Tette, Zumbo, and their districts 6220 6224 

 Do. do. Senna, Manice, ditto 2217 2513 

 Do. do. Quilimaiie, ditto 2523 2130 



10,960 10,367 



Total 21827 



