BRITISH NORTH BORNEO. 333 



Slavery. 



One great benefit which will follow on the establishment of 

 a Government by Europeans, will be the gradual abolition of 

 slavery, which, however mild it may be in this country, is 

 repugnant to civilised humanity. By recent laws promulgated 

 by the Government, the death blow to the various modes of 

 obtaining slaves has been struck, the following regulations 

 effectually accomplishing this object : — (1.) JS T o slaves can be 

 imported from other countries. (2.) Debtors cannot be seized 

 by their creditors, which was formerly one of the principal 

 means of obtaining slaves. (3.) All children born of slave 

 parents after November, 1883, and who would, according to 

 custom, be slaves also, are declared free. 



Most of the inhabitants of the coast are Mahomedans, 

 whilst the aborigines put their faith in omens and old supersti- 

 tions. 



Future Prospects. 



In conclusion, the experiment in colonization now being 

 tried by the British North Borneo Company, is one of more 

 than loeal importance, and is being anxiously watched by other 

 nations whose interests in those seas are so great. 



With the example of what has been done in the Native 

 States, and Sarawak, and by governing through and with the 

 assistance of the natives themselves — w r hich is indeed the only 

 true way in a country such as this — the young colony should, 

 within a reasonable time, realize the expectations it has aroused, 

 by taking a position corresponding to its natural advantages. 

 and sending forth its riches to the other countries of the world. * 



E. P. GUERITZ. 



[This paper was prepared at the suggestion of Mr. J. S. 

 O'Halloran, Secretary of the Royal Colonial Institute, by 

 whom it was read, on my behalf, at the Montreal Meeting of 

 the British Association for the Advancement of Science, on the 

 29th August, 1834— E. P. G.] 



* The information in this paper may be fitly supplemented by the following- 



