AFRICA. 103 
they obtained their liberty formerly, gave rife 
to a multitude of abufes ; becaufe thefe people, 
when they grew old and infirm, or when they 
found themfelves deftitute of refources, and un- 
able to procure a fabfiftance, became vagabonds 
and public robbers. 
The criminals whom the government of 
patavia often fends to the Cape, in order to get 
rid of them, preferve among thefe flaves a 
certain diforder, which will always afBid: them. 
Thofe people, called Bouginees^ are Malays, all 
fifhermen and harbourers of thieves ; with 
refpe£): to the latter article, their reputation is 
fo well eftablifhed, that fearch is always made 
firft among them, when a flave has difappear- 
cd, or when efFe£ts have been ftolen. 
A mafter here feldom punifhes his flaves 
himfelf ; he generally commits them into the 
hands of the fifcal, who orders fuch correc- 
tion as they have merited to be bellowed on 
them. If a mafter, however, who choofes to 
punifli his flave, treats him with cruelty, the 
latter may lodge a complaint ; and if he can af- 
terwards bring certain proof of his being again 
iifed in the fame manner, the fifcal obliges 
the proprietor to fell him. Should he feverely 
fi 4 \You^d 
