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20* 



per functions of G-overament in the collection of the tenth, 

 deriving the profit thereby, they must perform the reciprocal duty. 

 Another duty properly belonging to the proprietors is that of 

 repairing roads, bridges, paths, &c. ; this duty appears to have 

 been much neglected ; by all account the roads are by no means in 

 the state they used to be, and ought to be in ; the little labour that 

 has been bestowed, I suspect to have been the forced labour of the 

 inhabitants, extracted from them by the proprietors, and not paid 

 for. Should the proprietors agree to part with their titles on rea- 

 sonable terms, the establishment of a regular Police will not be a 

 difficult matter. The enquiries I have made confirm me in the 

 belief that the Panghooloos are the fittest instruments of Police, 

 they appear to be the principal inhabitants of these villages or di- 

 visions. Their proper duty has indeed been to levy the tenth on 

 account of the proprietor. When the proprietor puts his right up 

 to outcry and sells to a Chinese contractor this duty seems to be 

 done by the contractor himself, much to the prejudice of the 

 people ; the Panghooloo continues, however, to enjoy the immu- 

 nities of his office — exemption from the payment of the tithe. Two 

 of the Panghooloos I met with at Ayer Panas, distinctly informed 

 me that their fathers were the Panghooloos before them, and that 

 they expected their sons to succeed them. I infer that by the custom 

 of the country the office is hereditary in families, and I think the 

 admission of such practice generally beneficial, as more likely to 

 ensure good conduct and being consonant to the idea of the people. 

 To render the Police efficient throughout the country, it would 

 only be necessary to appoint the Panghooloo the Superintendent of 

 the Police, to use the European term, Constable of his division, to 

 allow him one or more Peons, to explain to him his duties, they are 

 in this case very simple — to seize, and send in all persons breaking 

 the peace or committing crimes and offences, and to execute orders 

 from the superior Magisterial authorities of the country ; other 

 duties naturally present themselves — that of keeping a correct list 

 of all the inhabitants of his division, their characters and mode of 

 life, requiring all newcomers and passers by to report themselves, 

 allowing no person to settle without a register, or report to and 

 license from superior authority. In their Eevenue capacity, that is, 

 as a servant of the proprietors, eventually of G-overnment, his duty 

 will be to collect the tenth, to report the state of the crops and of 

 the general cultivation. The duties, if I may use the expression, 

 of Eevenue and Police are so blended, that they can best be per- 

 formed by the same person. As to the argument that may be used 

 in respect to abuse of powers, we must recollect that all power in 

 human hands is liable to abuse, that abuse would probably be 



