. TIMBUCTOO. 15^

night with their dogs ; others are stationed in

particular places, as the market-place and the

kasserea^ or square, where the merchants have

their shops. Guards are placed at the king's

palace. Capital crimes are tried by the king :

smaller offences by inferior magistrates. The

council sit with the king, every man according

to his rank ; it consists of the principal officers

of his household; he asks tJieir opinion, but

unless they are unanimous, decides according

to his own. There are always five or six judges

sitting in the king's court for the general ad-

ministration of justice. The king is understood

to have no power of altering the laws : if the

council are unanimous, the king never decides

against them. ^

A slave is entirely at his master's disposal, who may put him to death v/ithout trial ; yet

the slave may complain to the council of ill-

usage, and if the complaint be w^ell-founded,

his master is ordered to sell him. The slaves

are always foreign ; a native cannot be made a

slave. There are three reasons for which a

slave may be entitled to freedom : "want offood, want of clothes^ and leant of shoes : an old slave

is frequently set at liberty, and returns to his own country. The children of slaves are the property of their master. Slaves cannot marry without the consent of their masters. The

^ This is^ a custom derived from Muhamedan govern- ments.