SOUTHERN AFRICA. 
425 
The Weejkammer^ or chamber for managing the efte<5ts of 
minors and orphans, is one of the original inftitutions of the 
colony, and is modelled on thofe eftablifhraents of a fimilar 
kind that are found in every city and town of the Mother 
Country. The nature of their laws of inheritance pointed out 
the expediency of public guardians to protect and manage the 
property of thofe who, during their minority, Ihould be left in 
an orphan ftate. In this inftance the Dutch have departed from 
the civil or Roman law on w^hich their fyftem of jurifprudence 
is chiefly grounded. By their laws of property the eftates and 
moveables of two perfons entering into wedlock become a joint 
flock, of which each party has an equal participation ; and, on 
the death of either, the children are entitled to that half of the 
joint property which belonged to the deceafed, unlefs it may 
have been otherwife difpofed of by will ; and here the legifla- 
ture has wifely interfered to allow of fuch difpofal only under 
certain rellridions and limitations. The Dutch laws, regarding 
property, are more inclinable to the interefts of the children, 
than favourable to the extenfion of parental authority. To 
enable a man to difmherit a child, he muft bring proof of his 
having committed one, at leaft, of the crimes of children againfl: 
parents, which are enumerated in the Juflinlan code. 
To guard againft abufes in the management of the provifion 
which the law has made for minors and orphans, and to fecure 
the property to which they are entitled, are the duties of the 
Orphan Chamber. Its authority extends' alfoto the adniiniftra- 
tion of the eflfedls, either of natives or ftrangers, who may die 
inteftate. At the deceafe of either parent, where there are 
VOL. II. 31 children, 
