HOUSA. 43 LANDED PROPERTY.

They have a class of men whose pecuhar business it is to adjust all disputes concerning land ; the office is hereditary ; the offender pays the compensation, and also the fees of these officers ; the innocent pays nothing. When lands are bought, these officers measure them. There is a plant resembling a large onion, which serves as a land-mark ; if these are removed, (which cannot be easily done without discovery) reference is had to the records of the sale, of which every owner is in possession ; they express the sum received ; the quantity, situation, and limits of the land. These are given by the seller, and are written in the language and character of the country, very different from the Arabic. The same letters are used at Timbuctoo. They write from right to left. The character * was perfectly unintelligible to Shabeeny. Children, whose father is dead, succeed to the same portion of their made liable for double the amount ; the half goes to the person robbed, and the other half to the treasury. The good effects of this law is admirable, insomuch that it has almost annihilated robbery : but when one has actually been committed, the energy and exertion of every individual is directed to discover the depredator, and they seldom fail to discover him. The fear of the penalty also makes them very cautious who they admit among them ; and very inquisitive respecting the character and vocation of all, strangers in particular, who sojourn in their country !

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"' Possibly the ancient Carthaginian character.