144 A TROPICAL DEPENDENCY tlon of the country. The fact that it was the custom of the Sultan to send cases in which he was appealed to for justice, to be tried at the ''proper tribunal," would seem also to indicate a severance of the executive and judicial powers which it is the habit of civilisation to regard as one of the guarantees of justice. But the condition of the country itself is, perhaps, the best testimony which can be borne to the efficacy of the system by which crime was punished and repressed. Amongst the admirable things which Ibn Batuta feels it to be his duty to praise, when, at the end of his visit, he summarises his opinion of the people of Melle, is, he says, the rare occurrence of acts of injustice in the country. " Of all people," he thinks that " the blacks are those who most detest injustice. Their Sultan never forgives any one who has been guilty of it." He also praises the "complete and general safety which is enjoyed in the country. Neither those who travel nor those who remain at home have anything to fear from brigands, thieves, or violent persons." " The blacks do not," he says, " confiscate the goods of white men who die in the country, even though it may be a question of immense treasure. On the contrary, their goods are always placed in charge of some white man, trusted by the community, until those who have a right to them can apply and take possession of them." The organisation of the Church was orthodox, every town having its mosque or mosques with salaried readers and teachers ; and in the principal towns, such as Melle, Timbuctoo, and Gago, mention is made of a "Cathedral Mosque." Schools are mentioned in many towns, and some, as in Zaghah, are specially spoken of as centres of distinguished learning. Ibn Batuta mentions with praise the religious assiduity of the people — the custom of celebrating regular prayer, not only in the public mosques, but in private meetings of the faithful — and the care with which children were brought up to observe similar practices. All educated children were expected to learn the Koran, and were either whipped or had fetters placed upon their