THE BAHAMA ISLANDS -±95 



regarded him with jealousy, guarded him carefully, denied him privileges, 

 erected harriers about him, and still preserved towards him that same attitude 

 which they had formerly assumed towards their slaves. It was only by that 

 persevering attention of the home government, working through the local 

 government, that additional guarantees were secured for the benefit of the 

 apprentices. 



Legal Status of Apprentices. 



The subject of the legal status of the apprentices will be discussed first 

 from the standpoint of the apprentice, and second from the standpoint of the 

 employer. Under the first will be considered the rights, privileges, etc., of the 

 apprentice in the following order: (a) maintenance, (b) personal rights, 

 (c) rights pertaining to contracts, (d) marital and family rights, (e) corporal 

 punishment, (f) manumission, (g) other rights. The second division or the 

 rights of the employer will be discussed under the following heads: (a) prop- 

 erty in the services of the apprentice, (b) right to return runaways, (c) en- 

 forcement of obedience, (d) prohibitions on apprentices. Lastly will come the 

 question of dealing with children. 



Rights and Privileges of the Apprentice. 



Maintenance. — The apprentice was still dependent on his employer for the 

 necessaries of life. The same allowances were required in this respect which 

 the slave owners had been required to furnish to their slaves."*" But in this 

 system an alternative was provided in that in lieu of provisions and clothing 

 the employer could furnish to the apprentice an equivalent in land for culti- 

 vation, or in time or money, according to the terms of approved agreements.^" 

 If land was furnished, a portion of the working time of the apprentice, to which 

 the employer was otherwise entitled, was placed at the disposal of the former 

 for purposes of cultivation. These lands were required to be accessible to the 

 laborer's habitation."' Apprentices over fifty years of age and those affected 

 with bodily infirmities remained as a charge upon their employers, if dis- 

 missed from service by an instrument in writing.""' 



Personal rights. — The apprentice now came into the life of the Colony with 

 many important rights of a freeman. His personality was now recognized in 



"•"Imp. stats., 3 and 4 William IV, 73 (11). 

 '"'4 William IV, 21. 



^'Imp. Stats., 3 and 4 William IV, 73 (11). 

 "'4 William IV, 21 (7). 



