WABXIXGS AGAIXST EXTORT: 143 



was verv common in past times, and was much resorted to 

 far the relief of many afflictions by the officials of Govern- 

 ment from the highest to the lowest, as well as by 

 * adventurers and others, trading in the East Indies." Suffice 

 it to say that the principle is admitted, that should any black 

 or brown individual, man, woman, or child, or any animal 

 belonging to either of them, be disturbed in any way, 

 frightened or injured, through misadventure, or through his, 

 her. or its own folly, negligence, or stupidity, some white 

 person is bound to make compensation, yea, ten-fold. This 

 practice is so generally acknowledged as the correct one, 

 (of course for this and other countries inhabited by black and 

 brown people only), that even the Government of India has 

 been known to feed plenteously twenty millions during seasons 

 of scarcity, when only three or four millions have been really 

 hungry; moreover, at certain times and seasons, acts done by 

 persons of black or brown tints are recognised by it as eminently 



ving of special honours or rewards, which being done by 

 white or whitey-brown folks are passed over as no more 

 than falling within their duty ; or other than was reasonably 

 to be expected of them. This difference of treatment is 

 so startling as sometimes to excite the suspicious alarm of 

 even those who benefit by it, while it rouses the anger and 



ist of the others, who cannot appreciate the tender 

 kindness exhibited. 



I have been led to make these remarks in order that 

 they may serve as warnings to new comers upon whom 

 attempts at extortion will certainly be made, as so-called 



ipensation for disturbance, 9 or fictitious losses and injury. 

 Accidents will occur to even the most careful, and sometimes 

 injury may be inflicted in innocence of any wilful negligence 

 or ill-intent, and in such cases full and liberal compensation 

 should be given, and is as a rule ; but, on the other hand, loud 

 and unreasonable demands should be resisted invariably, and 

 reduced to just and proper boun 



.ay be thought that a man saved by another from 

 a frightful death owes the latter a debt, and is not his 



