THE PRAZO SYSTEM 203 



and the power to ruin any planter by stopping 

 his labour supplies, the local prazo manager, in 

 a dispute, would be in the position of represent- 

 ing one of the interested parties and at the same 

 time of being the arbiter. 



But while drawing attention to the obstacles 

 to development that exist under the prazo 

 system it is necessary not to lose sight of the good 

 that it has done. Quelimane is the most pro- 

 gressive district of the Province, and the pro- 

 gress that has been made there has been the 

 work of the prazos. There is none in the 

 Government reserves. Hence, whatever criticisms 

 are brought against the system, the prazo holders 

 can with fairness reply that, little as they them- 

 selves may perhaps have done, they have at 

 least done more than any one else. It is up 

 to the Government in their reserves to show 

 the more excellent way. Impartial observers, 

 too, will admit that much credit is due to the 

 prazos for the success they have achieved in 

 educating the natives in handicrafts. Every 

 prazo station is an industrial w^orkshop, wherein 

 carpenters and furniture makers, blacksmiths, 

 boatbuilders, and, sometimes, when there is any 

 building going on, masons can be seen daily 

 plying their trades without any particular super- 

 vision. No missionary station that I have ever 



