colony in which he speaks out fearlessly on native questions, boldly taking up an attitude of independent criticism of the powers that be of the colony, by which he incurs the hostility and dislike of the official and unofficial members of the community. He feels that the "black peril" cannot be ignored, and that the fault is not all on one side; that white women are not without blame in the matter, indirectly and, in a small number of cases, in a more direct manner :- 'Raymond therefore came to the conclusion that, damnable as were the outrages that occasionally shook the country, the black man was not always at fault. It was a shameful thing to have to confess, but in the interests of truth he had to admit it. And why, he asked, this being the case, should the ignorant uncivilized native bear all the reproach? After all, he was a raw, uncouth, illiterate man in a country that was ruled by representatives of the greatest civilization the world had ever seen. In these circumstances, who might be fairly expected to have reached the highest plane of Christian morality? The question, to Raymond's mind, answered itself." Association with a leading man of the colony, possessing experience of and sympathy with the natives, leads him to some extent to modify his views on the general native question, though he rejects the policy of complete segregation as an impracticable one, and he comes to believe that social equality between the races is an impossibility, while still pleading for the political equality of educated coloured men with whites :— "He did believe that it was for statesmen to find some way in which whites and blacks could live together as members of the same community, interested in the same things, striving for the welfare of their country with equal chances and equal rights, and yet apart as the poles on questions of marriage and the relations of the sexes. . . . And how was it to be done? Only by a constructive and sympathetic policy, and the prevention of miscegenation." Eventually he resolves upon "putting one Black Peril case before the public with dramatic realism," and publishes an article calling attention to an outrage on public morals, which ends in his prosecution for indecency and sentence to two months' imprisonment. The book is vividly written, and while the difficulties of the native problem are not lost sight of, the preconceptions and prejudices of the dominant race are well brought out, and the illogicality of educating a race which is expected at the pleasure of the white man to remain in a condition of permanent subservience while it is expected to do all the hard work of the country, is clearly shown. Since the book was written events have progressed and public recognition of the importance of the question has been shown by the appointment of a special commission to consider the so-called "black peril," which issued its report a year or two ago. Its recommendations are in many respects on similar lines to those proposed in this volume. Published under the sanction and at the Offices of The Anti-Slavery & Aborigines Protection Society 51, Denison House, Vauxhall Bridge Road London, S. W. UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY JUL 1 4 1915 Anti-Slavery Reporter and Aborigines' Friend. JULY, 1915. [The Editor, whilst grateful to all correspondents who may be kind enough to furnish him with information, desires to state that he is not responsible for the views stated by them, nor for questions which may be inserted from other journals. The object of the journal is to spread information, and articles are necessarily quoted which may contain views or statements for which their authors can alone be held responsible.] Cocoa and Quarterly Motes. THE Consumption of Portuguese cocoa for the year ending 1914 shows a curious distribution as compared with 1913. Great Britain has taken about £73,000 only, whilst Holland has absorbed nearly £700,000, or over £300,000 more than in 1913. Germany's direct imports have fallen from £545,000 to less than £300,000, a decrease which may account for the Dutch increase. The most extraordinary growth, however, is that of Denmark, which in 1913 was only £9,721, whereas in 1914 the figures leapt up to £135.570. The total output of cocoa from the Portuguese islands has increased from £1,709,908 in 1913 to £1,805,285 in 1914. This latter fact will be borne in mind when we are able to examine once more the progress of the liberation and emancipation and repatriation of the slaves in these territories. A "Committee of Assistance for Black Troops" has been formed in Paris, under the patronage of the French Anti-Slavery Society, Geographical Society and Colonial Association. The object is to help Black troops now serving in France and being organized in Senegal. Help for Black Troops. New Hebrides. " A CORRESPONDENT, who has recently returned to Everything except the sale of grog, which flourishes exceedingly— is dead. The Joint Court on December 29 last suspended all its operations as a land Court' until such time as the Messageries Maritimes shall recommence its sailings from Marseilles.' On February 17 it also suspended its ordinary sittings until various officials arrive back in the New Hebrides. This requires explanation. Last November the acting President, Senor Moysi, gave place to the real President, the Count of Buena Esperanza, who then returned from leave. Simultaneously he applied for leave himself, as he wished to consult a dentist in Sydney. Arrived in Sydney he succeeded in obtaining a prolongation of leave to visit Europe. Besides this the Dutch Registrar of the Joint Court, Mr. Beugel, who went on leave last August, has since resigned, and of the four clerks of the Joint Court Registry, three have left on active service, and the fourth is on leave in Australia. Judge Colonna went away on leave last month, and is replaced temporarily by Judge Mabille. Also a number of French settlers have left to join the New Caledonian contingent, and more are to go next month. A few British settlers are also leaving. It is impossible to give accurate figures as yet." Loyal Basuto THE Cape Town correspondent of the African World reports that a reception of Basuto chiefs by the High Commissioner took place at Cape Town on April 19, and was a "quiet, simple but dignified affair," shorn of all the colour and life which attends the meeting of the Basuto with the King's representative when it takes place at the Basuto capital, Maseru : "The gathering was notable for the presence of native administrators from all over the Union, amongst them Mr. Malan (Union Minister of Native Affairs), Sir Herbert Sloley (Resident Commissioner of Basutoland), the Resident Commissioner of Bechuanaland, Mr. Wallace (Administrator of Northern Rhodesia), Colonel Stanford, and Mr. Dower (Union Secretary of Native Affairs). The keynote of the function was, as in all previous functions of the same character, the insistence by the Basuto chiefs on their desire to preserve their country and uphold their chieftainship under the aegis of the Imperial Government, and to this end Lord Buxton was reminded of the several promises given by the Imperial Government through its representatives since the time of Moshesh. A notable reference to the relations of Basutoland with the Union was contained in the clause of the Basuto Paramount's address, in which the hope was expressed that as long as Lord Buxton remained His Majesty's High Commissioner for South Africa he would maintain the friendly intercourse, peace, and prosperity between the Basutos and the neighbouring Government of the Union, which they respected and trusted. For, backward though they were in the scale of civilization, the Union Government recognized them and had consideration for them." The Annual Meeting. THE Committee decided to hold the Annual Meeting of the Society this year in a somewhat different form from that hitherto adopted. It was arranged that the President should hold a Reception at the Whitehall Rooms, which should be followed by a short Conference on the work of the Society. A good number of members and their friends were present on the afternoon of April 21, when amongst others Sir Harry Johnston attended and spoke. Opportunity was given for those present to make suggestions or criticisms as to the conduct of the Society's work, some of which are briefly reported below. At the close of the meeting general satisfaction was expressed with the informal character of the conference, and much interest was shown in the proceedings. |