SQUATTING. 383 



wardens after the delay granted has expired formally to notify 

 in writing, every person who may occupy crown lands in his ward, 

 that, after a fixed date, proceedings will be instituted before the 

 stipendiary magistrate of the district to impose a penalty for 

 such illegal tenure. With zeal and vigilance on the part of the 

 wardens, the Government might succeed in mitigating to a great 

 extent, and ultimately in destroying, the immoral and pernicious 

 system which has already exercised and, if effective measures be 

 not taken, must continue to exercise, so baneful an influence on 

 the general prospects of this colony, as well as on the physical 

 and moral welfare of the squatters themselves. The great mass 

 of these unsettled settlers is composed of Africans who, more than 

 the other classes, require the lessons of civilisation and the watch- 

 ful eye of the law. Now, how can this be obtained whilst the 

 objects of this aim are leading a half-savage life on the outskirts 

 of civilisation ? Their dwellings are mere huts ; their children 

 are almost in a state of nature as to clothing, and so shy that 

 they betake themselves to the bush around their retreats on the 

 approach of strangers, particularly of those who may bear the 

 marks of respectability. When the squatters are left undisturbed, 

 they generally cultivate ground provisions, such as plantains, 

 manioc, &c., and occasionally employ themselves in job-work on 

 the neighbouring estates. They may be said to form, in each 

 district, an association for mutual support, and generally manifest 

 great distrust towards those who do not belong to this con- 

 fraternity. This is, of itself, a great evil ; for confiding in the 

 strength of this bond, they have on more than one occasion 

 threatened violence to those who should adopt legal steps against 

 them, or, in any manner, disturb their security. On the other 

 hand, the removal of squatters from one spot but scatters them 

 over others more retired, and, to escape observation, their settle- 

 ments are formed widely apart from one another. The new grounds 

 they establish are rude and slovenly in respect of cultivation, the 

 precarious nature of their tenure, and the dread of being again 

 ejected, leading to the cultivation of such articles as yield quick 

 returns. Their labour is, however, directed principally to the 

 spoliation of the crown forests, in the burning of charcoal, and 

 the destruction of all species of game, either for their own 

 subsistence, or with a view to gain, by selling the same in the 

 neighbourhood. It is but too evident that people leading such a 



