16 TlMEHRI. 
agony, it is that which he dreads. But he for his part 
never thought of the pain which he inflicted on the unfor- 
tunate old man whom he had garotted, or the slight 
woman whom he hacked all over with his sharp cutlass : 
brutes should be treated as brutes, and the whip is the 
only argument that appeals to their feelings. 
I have tried not to draw too strong a picture or to 
make out our population worse than they are. The 
general behaviour of the people is good and quiet, and 
will compare favourably, as far as orderly conduct is 
concerned with the population of any European Capital. 
But there is no denying the fact that there is an under- 
current of brutality which finds its expression in many 
cases of violent assault ; and a carelessness with regard 
to the sanctity of property which is shown in numerous 
thefts, embezzlements and burglaries. It is, however, 
gratifying to know that crime does not increase in propor- 
tion to the population, the number of offenders during 
1887 shewing a considerable reduction from those of 
1886 and 1885, and we have every reason to hope, 
with better sanitary arrangements, a more widespread 
and wiser system of education, and more severe punish- 
ments for habitual criminals, that our Criminal Classes 
will soon shrink into much smaller dimensions. 
v9 
exC^M^^ 
