390 TRAVELS IN 
They are fubjed to no tythes nor church-rates whatfoever, 
-towards the maintenance of the clergy ; thefe being paid in the 
moft Hberal manner out of the treafury of Government. Nor 
Is any demand made upon them for the fupport of the poor. 
The very few that, through age or infirmities, are unable to 
maintain themfelves, are fupported out of the fuperfluities of 
the church. Where the mere articles of eating and drinking 
are lb reafonably procured as in the Cape, it is no great degree 
of charity for the rich to fupport their poor relations, and, ac- 
cordingly, it is the common pradice of the country. Thofe 
who come under the denomination of poor are, for the moft 
part, emancipated flaves, who may not have the benefit of fuch 
relations. Nor does the church provide for fuch on uncertain 
grounds. Every perfon manumitting a flave mufl; pay to the 
church fifty rix dollars or ten pounds, and at the fame time give 
fecurity that fuch flave iliall not become burdenfome to the 
church for a certain number of years. 
The police of the Town is committed to the management of 
a board confifting of fix burghers, called the Burgher Senate. 
The fundlons of this board are various and important, but they 
are performed in that carelefs and flovenly manner which is 
€ver the cafe where men are compelled to accept an office to 
which there is annexed neither pay nor emolument. The only 
exception that 1 know of is in the fituation of an Englifli juftice 
of peace. In every pubhc employment of a permanent nature, 
like that of the Burgher Senate, if the emoluments are not fuch 
as to make it worth a man's while to keep his place, the odds 
are 
