454 CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. 



justices of the peace. These districts are again subdivided into veld 

 cornetcies. The cornetcies are governed by a petty magistrate, who 

 is called a veld cornet. These extend over a distance of about twenty 

 miles, and under him is organized the militia force, in case it should 

 be called out. It is the duty of the latter to meet the requisitions 

 of the higher government officers for supplies, &c. There is little 

 liberty allowed the inhabitants of the districts, who are restricted 

 from all acts that might in any way tend to give expression to their 

 sentiments; not even are they allowed to hold a public meeting, and 

 all kinds of prosecutions are referred to the capital for final decision. 

 At the Cape they have a vice-admiralty court for the trial of offences 

 on the high seas. The commissioner of the district, and others hold- 

 ing office, are appointed under the great seal, who are each empowered 

 to grant licenses of marriage, and do other civil acts, and have asso- 

 ciated with them the justices of peace, as well as the veld cornets. 



The taxes are represented as being onerous ; there is, for instance, 

 a capitation tax of six shillings annually, on all free males and 

 females, above the age of sixteen. Those in the employ of the 

 government are exempt, as well as the servants attendant on them. 

 Horses and carriages of all kinds, are taxed from two to four pounds. 

 There is a tax on all incomes exceeding thirty pounds, of two 

 per cent. ; in addition to these are the stamp duties, water taxes, 

 house taxes, auction duties, market duties, tithes on wine and grain, 

 in short, on every thing that is sold ; all papers executed, transfers 

 of property, promissory notes, bonds, and licenses of all kinds; 

 indeed, it would be difficult to mention any thing exempted from 

 the all-pervading taxation which here prevails. On inquiring the 

 cost of articles, it is invariable to account for the price, by adding 

 that the article is taxed. The people are even taxed for permission 

 to leave the colony ; and I was told it was necessary to pay a tax to 

 take a bath. 



The whole revenue raised amounts to £130,000, and the ex- 

 penditures do not exceed £125,000. 



In order to lessen the weight of the taxation, it was in agitation at 

 the time of our visit, to increase the duties on imports, which are 

 about three per cent, ad valorem, on English articles, and ten per 

 cent, on foreign goods. 



The circulation is a paper one of the denomination of rix-dollars, 

 valued at one shilling and six-pence. There are no notes less than 

 twelve rix-dollars, equal to a pound. The monetary concerns of the 



