446 HISTORY 



ernment in this matter were included in some form, in a comprehensive amend- 

 ment to the consolidated slave law. It contained practically all that the 

 Bahamas ever conceded in the enactment of regulations for the amelioration 

 of the condition of their slaves."* A few minor points were added in 1839. 



Legal Status of Master and Slave. 

 The legal status of slaves in the Bahamas, as defined in the statutes men- 

 tioned above, will now be treated under the following heads : I. What the code 

 guaranteed to the slave, his rights and duties. II. What it guaranteed to the 

 master, his rights and duties. 



Rights and Duties of the Slave. 



Under this head will be considered : Maintenance, right to hold property, 

 marriage and family, civic rights, religious instruction, conditions and terms 

 of manumission, holidays. 



Maintenance. — The master was required to furnish to each of his slaves 

 over ten years of age, one peck of unground corn, or an equivalent, per week. 

 For each child under ten years of age, one-half of this allowance would 

 sufBce. Two suits of "proper and sufficient clothing" were annually fur- 

 nished to each slave. In addition to these things the slave was entitled to a 

 small quantity of land for his dwelling, and a garden.'' The law of 1834 

 prohibited the manumission of aged and infirm slaves, but that of 1837 per- 

 mitted manumission, and required the master in such instances to maintain 

 his freedman until death. 



Right to Hold Property. — Slaves- were allowed to hold property. The 

 code provided in general that "no slave on account of Ms condition .... 

 shall be deemed incompetent to purchase, hold, alienate or inherit property, 

 but shall be competent for the exercise of this right." The Eeceiver-General 

 of the Colony, was made a depository for money which slaves might wish to 

 deposit for safe-keeping. The slave could bequeath such money by means of a 

 will made by a simple declaration to that official. The property of a slave 

 dying intestate was disposed of according to the laws governing any property 

 of the character which he had left behind. Marriage revoked a will previously 

 made. In default of legitimate heirs the reputed issue, and the relatives, of the 

 deceased slave could take possession of his property. Lands in the possession 



"• 7 Geo. IV, 1, and cf. 10 Geo. IV, 13. 

 ^ 10 Geo. IV, 13. 



