MISCONDUCT OF SLAVES. 267 



constant disputes are taking place respecting their lands. 

 A case came before the weekly court of the commandant 

 involving property in a palm-tree worth twopence. The 

 judge advised the pursuer to withdraw the case, as the 

 mere expenses of entering it would be much more than the 

 cost of the tree. u Oh, no," said he; "I have a piece of 

 calico with me for the clerk, and money for yourself. It's 

 my right : I will not forego it." The calico itself cost 

 three or four shillings. They rejoice if they can say of an 

 enemy, "I took him before the court." 



My friend Mr. Canto, the commandant, being seized with 

 fever in a severe form, it afforded me much pleasure to attend 

 him in his sickness who had been so kind to me in mine 

 He was for some time in a state of insensibility; and I, 

 having the charge of his establishment, had thus an oppor- 

 tunity of observing the workings of slavery. When a 

 master is ill, the slaves run riot among the eatables. I did 

 not know this until I observed that every time the sugar- 

 basin came to the table it was empty. On visiting my 

 patient by night, I passed along a corridor, and unexpect- 

 edly came upon the washerwoman eating pineapples and 

 sugar. All the sweetmeats were devoured, and it was 

 difficult for me to get even bread and butter until I took 

 the precaution of locking the pantry-door. Probably the 

 slaves thought that, as both they and the luxuries were the 

 master's property, there was no good reason why they 

 should be kept apart. 



Debarred by my precaution from these sources of enjoy- 

 ment, they took to killing the fowls and goats, and, when 

 the animal was dead, brought it to me, saying, "Wo 

 found this thing lying out there." They then enjoyed a 

 feast of flesh. A feeling of insecurity prevails throughout 

 this country. It is quite common to furnish visitors with 

 the keys of their rooms. When called on to come to break- 

 fast or dinner, each locks his door and puts the key in his 

 pocket. At Kolobeng we never locked our doors by night 

 or by day for months together; but there slavery is un- 



