80 Timchri. 



Jack Purser need have had no fears whatever, except, per- 

 haps, that no part of his children's earnings would come his way. 

 His children were doing uncommonly well in British Guiana. 

 They were also imbibing British ideas of independence such 

 as would sadly have shocked their " Father."' Mr. Butts visited the Kru 

 Coast in 1 844-5, to investigate the prospects of emigration, and brought 

 back a Kru Prince. This dignitary, soon after he landed, went from 

 estate to estate attempting to levy revenue after the custom of the Kru 

 Country, but did badly. He left the colony in disgust, declaring that this 

 might be a tine country for Kruboys, but Dot for Kru Princes. 



IV. 



The Statute Books of the '40's, '50's and '60's of last century are 

 full to bursting with Immigration laws. Sixty-six Ordinances were 

 passed within twenty-five years. Quite a number of them, however, were 

 disallowed by the King. Half of them are Ordinances repealing the other 

 half. It is a Providential circumstance for the historian. 



The first Immigration Law — No. 4 of 1841 — enjoins equality 

 between the sexes ; Ordinance 12 of 1843 reduces this in the proportion 

 of one woman to two men ; in the following year even that restriction is 

 withdrawn. The women-folk declined to go to British Guiana — or the 

 men to bring them — until their lords and protectors had visited the 

 colony and seen conditions for themselves. Human natare is human 

 nature, despite Immigratiou Law. 



Back Passages — in respect of free Immigrants only — were provided 

 for by Ordinance 12 of 1843. It might be claimed free at the end of five 

 years, or at aproportionate cost at any time. Most of the Krumen, and 

 a few others, availed themselves of the provision. 



Contracts made outside the Colony — except with the Kruman who 

 would not stir without a contract — were strictly forbidden. Nor, at first, 

 were indentures permitted within the Colony. On the arrival of the 

 " Superior" on May 24, 1841, Sir Henry Light embodied in a memoran- 

 dum the considerations which would principally govern his recommenda- 

 tion to the people who had arrived from Sierra Leone to locate themselves. 

 They would be : — 



(1) The healthiness of the estate ; and under this head he 

 gave a decided preference to the sea-coasts ; * 



(2) The nearness of the estate to some place of worship; 



(3) Regard being had to the accommodation on the estate, 

 it would be desirable to distribute the people as extensively as 



* An interesting fact is recorded in a Report on Immigrants made in 1848 by Dr. Bon- 

 yun. He found that the death-rate among: African Immigrants in 1847 was higher on the 

 sea-coasts than on the rivers and creeks and on the Essequebo islands. The ratio of 

 mortality worked out as follows ; — 



Sea coasts 2.3. per 100. 



Banks of rivers 



k creeks, and 



islands 1.5 ,. ,. 



— ' as if the miasm which is so deadly to the Europeans were a congenial stimulant to the 

 natives of Africa," adds Dr. Bonyun 



