* You might find in a village one in 50 or one in a 100. It 
is not a large matter. They are entirely free. It is a name, 
that is all.’’ 
it 1s right to add, however, that Mr. Furley, who succeeded 
Mr. Crowther as Secretary for Native Affairs of the Gold Coast, 
and who was my Colonial Secretary here during the last 12 months, 
demurred to committing himself tc any definite opinion as to the 
extent to which ‘‘ domestic slavery *’ still obtains in the Gold 
Coast; his view, as I understood it, being that it is impossible 
to speak with certainty on the subject. The law, however, is 
clear and it is at any rate certain that any natives who still remain 
in a state of servitude in the Gold Coast can legally escape there- 
from without having to pay redemption money or without having 
ot seek asylum in some distant districts. 
Nigeria.—I enclose a copy of Nigeria Ordinance 35 of 1916,* 
the main provisions of which are :— 
Section 2.—The legal status of slavery is hereby declared 
fo be abolished throughout the Protectorate. 
Section 3.—All persons heretofore or hereafter born in or 
brought within the Southern Province, and all persons born 
in or brought within the Northern Province, after the 
31st March, 1901, are hereby declared to be free persons. 
Section 6.—No claims for compensation from Government to 
persons claiming to be owners shall be recognised in respect 
of slaves who may acquire their freedom by virtue of this 
Ordinance. 
I understand, however, that, at any rate as regards Northern 
Nigeria, the above provisions were first enacted in 1901. 
With reference to section 2 quoted above, Sir Frederick Tiugard 
notes, on page 368 of The Dual Mandate :— 
*“ By abolishing slavery as a status known to the law, 
permissive freedom is granted to the slave. He becomes 
endowed with full civic rights. He can sue for ill-treatment, 
and cannot be seized if he leaves his master and asserts his 
freedom. The institution of domestic slavery is not thereby 
abolished, as would be the case under.a decree of general 
emancipation. A master is not compelled to dismiss his 
slaves, and so long as the two work harmoniously together the 
law does not interfere. But the slave has the power of 
asserting his freedom at any time, and his master is actionable 
if he resorts to force to recover him.” 
In this passage, Sir Frederick draws a distinction between a 
decree of general emancipation and legislation which would deprive 
slave owners of any legal rights and privileges as such. While, 
* See page 37.