266 WHALING AND FISHING. 



seen on the streets of Port Louis, whom a police- 

 man has reason to think a deserter, IK; is forced to 

 produce either his free-papers or a permit or leave 

 of absence from his master, and in default of both 

 of these documents, is at once imprisoned and 

 adrertised, in order that his master may claim 

 him. 



On the plantations the lash is freely used, it 

 having been found that without this the requisite 

 amount of labor can not be extorted from these 

 poorly paid, ill fed and naturally indolent people. 

 It will be easily conceived, that their condition is 

 not therefore any better than one of slavery, for 

 the time being, and taking into consideration the 

 false pretences under which they are allured to 

 leave their native land, and the hopes held out to 

 them of being able, at the end of their apprentice- 

 ship, as it is called, to return home in easy circum- 

 stances, their condition is much worse, and their 

 treatment a greater wrong against humanity. 



Comparatively few ever return. Many die be- 

 fore the expiration of their term of labor. Others 

 engage in business, numbers of them keeping 

 small stores for the sale of provisions and fruit? 

 to the poorer classes of their countrymen who live 

 In the city. And others yet labor about the town, 

 or peddle vegetables and goods about tfc e streets, 

 thus earning a scanty subsistence : part of which 

 they are again forced to surrender to the govern- 

 ment in tho shape of a license to pursue their 

 calling 



