. 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 administration 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 illusage, and if the complaint be well-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 governments.