58 STATISTICAL ACCOUNT OF THE 



rit of rendering circulable a greater portion of the fixed pro- 

 * perty of a country, and thus faciUtates the obtainal of capital 

 for every sort of enterprize. 



The poUce is very strict, and as the laws are Dutch, so are 

 the names of the officers of justice. The Fiscal is the chief 

 magistrate, who has under him the Drossart (sheriff or jailer) 

 and twenty Dienaars (constables or servants of justice). Ne- 

 groes guilty of improper conduct in the streets, or of being 

 out after eight o'clock of the night without a passport, are com- 

 mitted to the jail, where they remain until liberated by their 

 owners, when they receive such a punishment as their fault 

 deserves, Very exorbitant fees are attached to the jail and 

 jailer. The following is a correct list of the charges: 



s. d. 



Arresting a Negro f. 5 : 10 or 9 6 



Admission - 5 : 10 or 9 6 



Seven days maintenance at lOd per day, 5 10 



Flogging - - - -96 



Discharge - - - 9 6 



£2 3 10 



The law permits only thirty-nine lashes at a time, unless for 

 a capital offence, when the culprit is tried openly by the court, 

 which adjudges and passes sentence if he is proved guilty. 



