SOUTHERN AFRICA. 143 
In \h first capacity it may be considered as a sort of Court 
of Conscience. The pronencss of the people to litigation 
made it necessary, notwithstanding the scanty population, to 
establish this as a relief to the Superior Court, by taking off 
its hands the decision of a multiplicity of trifling suits, as 
well as, by a summary mode of proceeding, to prevent heavy 
costs. The process for the recovery of a debt is very simple. 
A summons is sent from the Secretary to the debtor, forty- 
eisht hours before the meetinsr of the Court, which is on 
every Saturday. The parties are heard, a decision taken, 
and sentence pronounced. An appeal lies to the Superior 
Court. 
In order to obtain a licence for marriage, it is necessary 
for both persons to appear personally before the Court, to 
answer to such questions as may be put to them concerning 
their age, the consent of parents or guardians, their relation- 
ship, and such like; after which a certificate is given, and 
the banns are published thrice in the church. The consent 
of parents or guardians is necessary to be had by all who 
marry under the age of twenty-five years. If the consent of 
parents or guardians be refused to a minor, the removal of 
the objections is left to the discretion of the Court. If either 
of the parties has been married before, and has children, a 
certificate must be produced from the Secretary of the Or- 
phan Chamber, or from the notary appointed to administer 
to, the affairs of the children, that the laws of the colony re- 
lating to inheritance have been duly complied with. 
