64 



ST. HELENA 



all children born of any slave woman should from and after 

 Christmas Day 1818 be free. 



The introduction of slavery on the island itself appears 

 to have originated witii the first settlement ; but according 

 to the records, restrictions were early placed on any further 

 importation, as a fear gained ground that their number 

 would exceed those of the Europeans. Some years after 

 however permission was again granted to import slaves, 

 on condition that the purchaser should maintain a white 

 man for the mihtia, or in default should pay the Govern- 

 ment IDS. per head for each slave. There was a law that 

 each Madagascar ship calling for stores should be compelled 

 to land a negro — either man or woman (whichever was 

 decided by tlie Governor) — for service in the Company's 

 plantations. 



The laws made for white people did not extend to the 

 blacks, who were hardly considered above the animals, 

 except for their value as workers. This will be seen from 

 some of the laws and orders constituted for the negro 

 slaves by the inhabitants of the island, with the approba- 

 tion of the Governor and Council. They are as under, and 

 are supposed to have been framed either in Governor Field's 

 time or in the early part of Mr. Blackmore's Government. 



That no Black or Blacks upon any pretence whatever shall wander 

 from his master's plantation upon Sundays without a lawful occa- 

 sion granted by their said masters or mistresses, either by writing 

 or some other token that shall be known by the neighbourhood, 

 upon the penalty of ten lashes on his naked body for the first offence, 

 fifteen for the second, twenty for the third, and so for every offence 

 thereafter committed ; but if the master of the said slave or slaves 

 should refuse to comply with this said order, the person who 

 shall have taken the said slave or slaves acting contrary to this said 

 order, shall be obhgcd to complain to tlie Governor and Council 

 w^hora we desire to fine him or them that shall so offend at discretion. 

 That negro, or negroes, that shall be known to 

 For pilfering steal the value of eighteen pence, shall have 

 and stealing. twenty lashes on their naked body, inflicted by 

 the master or masters of such slave or slaves in 

 the presence of the person so offended ; but, if the theft should 

 amount to three shillings, the lashes aforesaid are to be increased 

 to thirty ; and if six shillings, to sixty, and the party so prejudiced 

 shall receive the value of the thing so stolen in specie, or in money 

 from the owner of the said slave or slaves ; and if the theft amounts 

 to above six shillings and under thirty shillings, the offender shall 



