— xxxiii — 201 



for it must be understood that only on their accepting these terms 

 we waive all enquiry. It would appear that many of the original 

 title deeds lodged in the Office of the Court -have been made away 

 with, I entertain little doubt, by persons interested, and that the 

 right of resumption and the provision for cultivating and improving 

 them was inserted in all. Should the proprietors assent to the 

 transfer, our course will be very clear ; we shall then stand in their 

 place in relation to the actual tenantry. The possession of the 

 lands now occupied and cultivated must, of course, be ensured to 

 them, that is, on the payment of the regular tenth and no more, due 

 notice must be given them that all existing rights will be carefully 

 preserved to them, that regular papers will be given to them 

 specifying and defining the land attached to each, and securing 

 possession to them and their heirs on the established terms. They 

 must be told that they are relieved from all vassalage and feudal 

 services whatever, that their labour is free, that in rendering the 

 tenth of the produce, all pecuniary obligations due to the State are 

 fulfilled, and that for every article required over and above, pay- 

 ment will be made. It must, however, be understood that the set- 

 tlement to be made with the occupants will embrace only the lands 

 actually cleared, occupied and cultivated ; to all lands actually 

 waste and forest the right of Government is reserved ; for the 

 gradual clearing of all such lands, arrangement must from time to 

 time be made by the Officers of Government, and in this respect 

 the known and established principle will be observed. That is, to 

 grant cutting papers to such as may apply, to allow to the parties 

 the occupation of the land free of any payment for a given number 

 of years, after which to be liable to the payment of the established 

 tenth or such other terms as Government may settle with the 

 parties. In a country where the soil is particularly rich and fertile, 

 the climate peculiarly favourable and healthy, where due care and 

 attention exist towards the protection of the persons and pro- 

 perty of the inhabitants, influx of population and great extension 

 of cultivation may be reasonably expected. 



Having made these observations respecting the lands, and 

 proposed a certain course to be eventually pursued, the next point 

 for consideration is the Police of the country. From the report 

 of Mr. Garlino above alluded to (of the llth December), 1 infer 

 generally that there exists no Police in the interior, that the 

 authority of Government has never been established, that the few 

 inhabitants occupying lands near our frontier are subjected to con- 

 stant annoyance from the Chiefs and inhabitants beyond them, 

 that the proprietors can neither collect their tenth, or even prevail 



