CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. 427 



portation; while, for other and minor crimes, the prisoners are 

 employed as convicts on Robben's Island, working in the quarries; for 

 less offences, flogging and imprisonment are inflicted. 



On the other hand, the English civil law has been modified by that 

 of the Dutch : this has increased litigation, in consequence of the absurd 

 manner in which boundaries were formerly laid off; such, for instance, 

 as estimating by the distance a man could walk in a hour, or canter 

 with his horse. 



Another source of complaint, which amused me not a little, was the 

 administration of justice by a supreme court, over which a chief justice 

 and two puisne judges preside ; two of these are English, while the third 

 is a Scotchman; the consequence is, the English judges administer the 

 law after the English code, while the Scotch judge follows that of 

 Scotland, which often renders the decision diametrically opposite : and 

 it is impossible for the advocate or client to know by what judge or 

 law his case is to be tried. It was said, I know not with what truth, 

 that high connexions have been considered more suitable qualifications 

 for the office than legal knowledge. The salaries do not exceed fifteen 

 hundred and two thousand pounds annually. 



There are in the Cape colony eight districts. Each of these is 

 governed by a commissioner or civil magistrate, who is assisted by 

 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 prose- 

 cutions 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 holding office, are 

 appointed under the great seal, who are each empowered to grant 

 licenses of marriage, and do other civil acts, and have associated 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 



