7
PUBLIC
RECORD OFFICE
Reference -
C.O. 885
4 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
Cases seen in hospital.
Kitchen,
Store room.
Workshops.
Prisoners on probation.
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improved the Chapel, but the addition-by being carried up to the roof of the hospital --has admitted of a commodious dispensary being provided over the Chapel for the hospital, from which the dispenser can overlook his patients.
5. There were eleven cases in the hospital, principally affections of the lungs, and low fever, which latter disease is somewhat prevalent just now, owing to the land winds recently experienced at the Settlement. I spoke to each of the patients, and listened to anything they had to say. None had any complaint to make; all were evidently sensible of the kind care and attention they receive at the bands of Dr. Klein; but of those who spoke all told the same old story-that they would never get better unless the Governor would release them. One poor fellow who was most urgent for release was in the last stage of consumption. His long release was evidently not far distant. To have removed him from medical control would have been but to hasten his death. On the floor above I found three patients from outside: one a case of fracture, from a wood-cutting establishment; one of fever; and one, a young Indian boy who was dreadfully burnt owing to falling into a large kettle of boiling soup. There was alsó a prisoner patient in a darkened room, who had become suddenly blind. He professed to see objects moving before him, but not to be able to distinguish their shape. He was a fine, strong- looking black-man, in splendid condition, and apparently in robust health. Dr. Klein says the case is an undoubted one of malingering. The man had no complaint to make. 6. In my last Report I think I remarked upon the inconvenient arrangement of the kitchen. I again noticed this upon the present occasion, and I took advantage of the presence of the foreman of works engaged in putting up the new prison building to ask him to give his assistance to Mr. Sealy, so that some design for improvement might be prepared for consideration.
7. The store-room I found upon this occasion in very creditable order. Mr. Sealy informed me that, since Mr. Craig had been admonished and had been allowed to return to his duty, his conduct had been excellent. He spoke of him as a really valuable officer, and he attributed the trouble into which the man had got about the time I last visited the Settlement as principally arising from the distress of mind occasioned by the sickness and death of his wife. As I had had occasion to find fault with the condition of the stores and store-room before, it was very pleasing to me to be able on this occasion to commend. 8. I found eleven men employed as shoemakers and tailors, and nine as blacksmiths and tinsmiths. All appeared to me to be working well, and working cheerfully; or perhaps I should express myself more accurately were I to say with an absence of that listlessness which is so indicative of the performance of compulsory tasks.
a negro,
9. In the interior of the prison I found that there were seven prisoners in the proba tionary class. Three were at work on the crank as I came to their cells. I may be singular in my views concerning this species of punishment, but those views are formed after an experience of many years of negro and Indian character. I not only consider such a punishment a grievous misapplication of power-indeed, a waste of power-in a Colony where labour of every description is insufficient to supply its wants, but I believe such a punishment to be antagonistic to reformation. Entirely the converse of this may obtain in England. There the punishment may be a good punishment in itself. I am only here considering it in connection with those with whom we have in this Colony principally to deal. A punishment which, from its very monotony, may be terrible to a white man, who from natural activity of brain feels the strain that monotony engenders, bas no such effect on
The more mechanical the required action, the more consonant is it to the brain of an ordinary negro, and his muscular develop. ment soon becomes accustomed to the unchanging motion. From my own observa- tion, I have no faith in the application of either shot drill or the crank as a means of punishment to a negro, and I believe these observations are applicable, although possibly in a less degree, to the Indian and Chinese criminals that are to be found in our gaols. To advert particularly to Massaruni, I believe that the work that there can be provided in the stone quarry is a substantial punishment, as well as real hard work. By such work the brain is stimulated to exertion, and by such means the way may be prepared for moral reformation. I cannot think that by shutting a negro up for three months grinding air, any other effect can be produced than to still further ‣ deaden his moral sensibilities, and to still further develop his animal tendencies. In making these observations I may be travelling out of the record, but I trust your Excel- lency will forgive me; my only desire, whether I am right or wrong, is to call attention to the subject, that wiser and more experienced heads than mine may determine whether the system is sound or otherwise, and whether, to a negro, more mischief may not be done during the three months of solitary confinement in a cell, pursuing an unvarying occupa- tion, than can be counterbalanced by years of after training.
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10. I found five prisoners in solitary confinement upon bread-and-water, for offences Prisoners in solitary against prison discipline. I spoke to each one, and heard all they had to say. I could confinement. find no cause for interference except in one case, in which Mr. Scaly spoke of the prisoner as an excellent working hand, and generally as a well-conducted man, but over fond of quarrelling is present offence was insolence to the warder and refusal to work. As the man struck me as one upon whom an impression might be made by the exercise of leniency, and as he had only three more days to serve, I recommended Mr. Scaly to remit the remaining portion of his punishment. I pointed out to the man that I did so upon the strength of the good character which he had heard Mr. Scaly give of him; and I asked him why he did not help Mr. Sealy in the pleasing duty of recommending him for that remission of a portion of his sentence which good conduct would insure. I advised him to keep a guard over his tongue and over his temper for the future; and I told him that I hoped the next time I came across his name it might be in association with those who were recommended for tickets for leave, for it was clear to me that it rested only with himself. From the man's manner I do not think that these few words were thrown away. He was sent to work the next morning. In addition to these men undergoing punishment, I found one man awaiting trial for escape. Through some mis- apprehension it appears that this man was not sent up for trial at the last assizes held in Essequebo, and the man has been held as an untried prisoner since October last. I pointed out to Mr. Sealy that the man's original sentence of penal servitude was still in full force, and keeping him locked up in a cell doing nothing was not fulfilling his sentence, which was not extinguished by his subsequent offence; and I authorized Mr. Sealy to re-employ the man on penal labour. For the offence of escape he can be tried at the next Essequebo assizes. The man's name is Andries, No. 176. He escaped on the 9th January, 1874, and he was not recaptured until October, 1874.
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11. Great progress has been made in the additional prison building. The sills and State of additional the whole of the floor joists are laid. The studs of one side are up, and of about one-half building now in
of the opposite side, and a portion of the cell studs are in position. The piers upon which course of erection. the sills rest are built of solid masonry. About 5,000 blocks of stone, varying in size from about 18 inches by 12 inches to 12 inches by 6 inches, all quarried and dressed by the prisoners, have been used in their construction, and the work appeared to me to be excellent. A gang of about twelve men were employed dressing stone required for steps, &c. I watched these men. They were working well, and there seemed to be a certain amount of emulation amongst them that it is rare to see under such circumstances; men watching their neighbours' work from time to time, to see whether the progress made is equal to their own.
I think Gang in quarry.
12. About sixty men were employed in the usual operations in the quarry, that this quarry is in itself one of the most valuable means of punishment that could be devised. There is nothing degrading or demoralizing in the work. It is undoubtedly hard work of a telling description, and it is work that cannot be scamped by the indolent, and while providing penal labour that really is labour, it moreover affords supplies of stone to the Colony that could scarcely otherwise be obtained.
13, I expended the remainder of the day until it became dark in inspecting the Inspection of farm "farm" and the provision grounds. The farm was much as it was when I last saw it, and provision but Mr. Sealy has managed very greatly to extend the area of the provision grounds. grounds. By such means the cost of the keep of the prisoners can be considerably lessened. Mr. Sealy's attempts at growing rice have resulted in perfect success. I gathered some ears of rice, that for weight and size would, I believe, compare favourably with rice grown in some of the best rice-growing countries. I have been in some of those countries, but I have not seen better specimens of rice than those I obtained at the Bettlement.
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14. At half-past 6 the next morning I again visited the prison, and I inspected all Inspection of men the prisoners at parade after they came out of the chapel from morning prayers. They at morning parade, were informed that if any of them had any complaint to make, or wished to say anything to me, that I would be ready to hear them. Only three men fell out from the ranks, which numbered over 200 prisoners. I patiently listened to what they had to say, and found that they had no real grievance. Two out of the three complained of having been punished unjustly by Mr. Sealy, inasmuch as they had not committed the offence for which he had punished them, and they complained that he believed the warders and would not believe them. I carefully examined their statements and succeeded in obtain- ing from them, after much prevarication, an admission of having done precisely that which they at first so positively asserted they had not done. The third man complained of being set to work whilst he had disease of the heart so bad that it was killing him, and that although he had complained to the doctor, the doctor would take no notice of
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