Our People. 237 
Cape, Ceylon, Mauritius, Straits Settlements, etc., we find this to be the case. 
Why therefore should British Guiana be single ? If the idea is to coerce Hindus 
and Mohamedans to become good Christians all I can say is that the attempt 
will end in failure. There may be a fear that the heathen with their rites will 
attract the blacks and so militate against their Christian teaching. That 
such fear is not unfounded, one is forced to admit when one sees the black 
youths taking just as much delight in a tadjah as those for whom the ceremony 
is held ; although they do not possibly realise the idea of a sort of scape-goat 
in it in the part taken by the Hindus in the celebration, or the deaths of Hassen 
and Hossein which are recalled by the Mohamedans. It isa religious ceremony 
nevertheless and has its effect in the same way that a kumfoo “dance still has 
in some purts of the colony. As I have suggested a Tuskagee Institution 
for the blacks, so I will suggest village communities for East Indians in the 
interior. The details for these would necessarily involve a great amount. of 
consideration but as there is a movement on the part of influential East Indians 
to bring their people more together, I do not think any inseparable obstacle 
exists, although East Indians look to the Sircar for assistance in all their 
needs. But this would vanish in time when once they were properly settled. 
Of course if a railway is ever really taken in hand the opening up and settle- 
ment of the interior will soon follow. 
Referring back to the suggestion of laws it is interesting to note that in 
Ceylon there exists the Roman Dutch Law ; 
2. The Shesawalemai or customs of the Malabar inhabitants of the Northern 
Province. If this is silent recourse is had to Roman Dutch law ; 
3. Laws and usages of Mussulmans, and 
4. Kandyanlaw. Whenitis silent Roman Dutch Law. 
In Hong Kong :— 
A provision for rendering valid wills by Chinese if proved to have been made 
or acknowledged and authenticated in accordance with Chinese law and usages. 
In the Straits Settlements :— 
Specia' laws applicable to particular races including intestate succession, etc. 
In Mauritius :— 
The Code Civil, Code of Civil Procedure and Code of Commerce by the 
eighth Article of the Articles of Capitulation of December 8th, 1810. 
In Canada :— 
Each Province is autonomous as to the law of property and civil rights save 
in so far as the law may be affected by legislation of the Parliament of Canada 
upon one of the subjects within its competence. 
On the Gold Coast the law in force includes native customs not repugnant to 
native justice in suits between natives. 
