CO882-(3-4) — Page 189

།།། །། །

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

C.O.

Reference :--

882

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ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

SIR,

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No. 13.

COLONIAL OFFICE to FOREIGN OFFICE.

Downing Street, 3rd June 1875. WITH reference to the letter from this Department of the 6th January 1874, I am directed by the Earl of Carnarvon to transmit to you, to be laid before the Earl of Derby, a copy of a despatch from Sir A. Phayre with a return relative to the liberated Africans landed at the Seychelles in 1874†.

I have, &c

The Under Secretary of State,

Foreign Office.

No. 14.

(Signed)

J. PAUNCEFOTE.

GOVERNOR SIR A. PHAYRE, K.C.S.I., C.B., to the EARL OF CARNARVON. No. 265. MY LORD,

(Received January 7th, 1876.) Mauritius, November 27th, 1875.

In my despatch, No. 131, dated the 9th of June last, I had the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship's despatch No. 88, dated the 5th of May last,‡ referring to a letter addressed to my predecessor by Mr. Le Marchand, one of the members of the Board of Civil Commissioners of the Seychelles, which dwelt chiefly on the evils under which the islands suffered from squatters and habitual thieves.

2. Sir Arthur Gordon in his despatch, No. 202 of the 28th July,§ promised to deal with the above question which he justly characterised as a very difficult one.

3. I may premise by stating that the English term squatter seems to be applied in the Seychelles to two different classes of people, both being of African race; either liberated Africans whose allotted terms of service on first arrival have expired, or the descendants of such persons born on the islands. Some of them, especially the first-named, disliking regular labour (I very much fear the treatment they received from their employers con- firmed, if it did not originate, this dislike), have taken themselves to the hills in Mahé ; and in the numerous deep ravines clothed with thick, tropical vegetation which furrow the mountain sides, find a safe retreat. They escape regular fixed labour which they hate. They raise a few vegetables here and there, but the cocoa nut plantations of landed proprietors, far and near, furnish them with pleasant food, or with what they can readily sell. They constitute therefore the "habitual thieves" mentioned. The term I have no

doubt is well deserved.

"

"

3. The term " vagabondage is by a few gentlemen in Seychelles applied not only to those living as above described, but to others also of African race, who live on the estates of small landed proprietors. They are in fact tenants, on what is called the "moitié- moitié tenure. Mr. Le Marchand in the letter, a copy of which was forwarded to your Lordship, refers to both classes, the squatters in ravines and the "moitié-moitié' tenants, when he speaks of those who live in vagabondage. He is one of the very few proprietors possessing larger estates than the majority in the group of islands, and who work their properties by hired labourers. They therefore naturally desire to have such labourers available. They dislike to see Africans living as moitié tenants almost as much as they do to see ravine squatters. Both classes are by such proprietors denounced as "habitual thieves." How far this term of reproach is applicable to the métayer tenants I am not prepared to say.

4. Such was the state of affairs which Sir Arthur Gordon had to meet. He provided a remedy for the evils in questions by means of four Regulations, which were passed by the Board of Civil Commissioners. They are No. 6 of 1874, "To check the larcenies of cocoa nuts;" No. 7, of 1874, "To levy a rate for the construction of roads and bridges and the expenses of primary education;" No. 9 of 1874, "For the registration certain cases of persons in occupation of land or premises;" and No. 10 of 1874, "To provide for the registration in certain cases of leases and agreements of property." I beg

of each Regulation.

to enclose a copy of a 1874 was passed to enable the police to trace the sale of stolen

Regulation

cocoa nuts.

Regulation No. 7 of 1874, by making all males between the ages of 15 and 50 years liable under Class IX. of the schedule to be rated at a fixed sum for the purposes of the Regulation, made it possible for the Government to do what had not been done before, that is, to make a register of all squatters, and require from them some payment in return for the protection to which they were entitled.

† No. 18.

§ No. 9.

• No. 7.

No. 11.

"

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Regulations Nos. 9 and 10 of 1874 were considered, if not designed, to strike a tenants who held on moitié-moitié" tenure, and who were supposed to be as burtful to the commuity as the ravine squatters. When these Regulations were passed it was con- sidered that vagabondage, that is the existence of any people without land of their own, or without a contract of service, or holding land without the obligation to pay a money rent, would disappear. It was also hoped that thefts of agricultural produce would cease or much diminish.

5. Soon after my arrival during September last at Mabé, the principal island of the group, I had interviews with a number of the landed proprietors and others of the inha- bitants. Every one complained that thefts of cocoa nuts were as numerous or even more so than before; and that labourers were if anything more difficult to be had than before. Mr. Le Marchand himself had at that time only three or four on his property, though be could have employed ten times as many; while the measures taken against the "moitié- moitié" tenants were warmly denounced by the small proprietors. It was observed that the vegetable market had become scantily supplied during the present year. This was attributed by the small proprietors to the difficulty thrown in the way of cultivating land, consequent on the forced ejectment of the great majority of the “moitié-moitié tenants. As these islands look hopefully to visits by ships of the Royal Navy and by whalers, to Port Victoria, any diminution in the supply of fruits and vegetables was considered likely to cut off a source of profit to shopkeepers, as well as to small landowners,

6. After I had been about three weeks on the island in communication with all classes of the inhabitants I received an application, numerously signed by small proprietors, which I have the honour to submit in original. These proprietors are chiefly of pure French descent, a few being wealthy; but the majority possessing not more than 100 acres of land, and some less than 50 acres.

7. After full consideration of all that had been brought to my notice I came to the following conclusions:

1st. That the cocoa nut and other vegetable produce was still liable to constant plunder, chiefly by the ravine squatters; and that the existing Regulation, No. 6 of 1874, for the protection of cocoa nut plantations was insufficient to secure that object.

2nd. That the enactment No. 7 of 1874 to levy rates on all classes of the inhabitants had failed as regards the labouring class, chiefly because there were no adequate means provided for making Class IX. in the schedule pay the rate. The persons who should have been and whom it was desirable to have assessed under that class remained hidden in their ravines, and no effectual attempt seemed to have been made to search them out. That it was expedient in the cause of order that such persone should be assessed for payment of rate and be registered. That this in itself would be one means of breaking up their residence in secluded spots, which enabled them to live by theft.

3rd. That the tenure of " moitié-moitié” had in itself nothing objectionable; that the evils supposed to arise from it were very much exaggerated; that it afforded a means for honest employment to the African, and tended to prevent him from living by habitual theft; and finally, that the interference which had taken place with this cultivation had already diminished the market supply of vege- tables for the town of Port Victoria, and might be expected to reduce it still further. Finally, the interference with this tenure had apparently had the effect of increasing the thefts of agricultural produce.

8. Having, therefore, satisfied myself that it was necessary to amend and to extend some of the provisions of the above-mentioned Regulations, I, on the advice of the District Judge, Mr. Esnouf, caused draft Regulations to be submitted to the Board of Civil Commissioners to carry out the above-mentioned objects.

9. I have the honour to submit to your Lordship copies of the Regulations in question. No. 3 of 1875, which is to be read as part of Regulation 6 of 1874, provides that cocoa nats when removed shall be accompanied by a permit. The object has been to endeavour to protect the honest owner and seller of this valuable fruit, though it must be acknowledged that it is very difficult to do so.

Regulations Nos. 9 and 10 of 1874 have been repealed by Regulation No. 2 of 1875. The "moitié-moitié tenants are thus left unmolested. Regulation No. 7 of 1874 was repealed by No. 4 of 1875. I beg to enclose copies of the Regulations now enacted. The object of Regulation No. 4 of 1875 was, while re-enacting the provision of No. 7

29786.

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