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the present claimants by descent or purchase which it is impossible accurately to trace. It is also impossible to fix the area of this ancient cultivation as the surrounding land has been constantly encroached upon over the years. The Board cannot say to what extent such ancient cultivation carried with it ownership of the soil.
Probably before the Colony was annexed the cultivators had the usufruct of the land subject to the payment of tribute to someone on the mainland, and since the annexation, they have continued to grow their crops subject to the payment of Kwattir's License fee where the Government have been able to collect it.
13. Taking these matters into consideration, the Board thinks that a fair way of settling these claims (10, 11, 12, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30) will be the issue of leases from year to year at a rent rather less than that which has been generally paid where licenses have been taken out, such leases to contain a proviso that if the tenant, his descendants, or assigns should at any time be required to give up possession, they shall have a reasonable time allowed them to harvest any growing crops and receive compensation varying according to the circumstances from 18 to 35 times the annual amount of the Crown rent as detailed in the Schedule.
14. From the total amount of the Crown rent, the amount of compensation would, in the event of the Government requiring the land,