GOVERNMENT. 31

their reports in a higher quarter ; but the state, in

these cases, confiscates the plunder, as I have before

mentioned, and the poor people receive no indemni-

fication. The interests of the separate functionaries

are, moreover, too closely united for the one to

place any impediment in the way of the other.

The judges are bribed, and a mere deposition, or

loss of oflSce, generally terminates the affair. When the detected fraud is, however, too flagi-

tious, the criminated officer is immediately sent

into a distant province, and then prosecuted, in

order that he may have no opportunity of coming to

an undei-standing with his judges, or accusers. la

this case he is certainly lost ; but the state confis-

cates the proceeds of his rapacity, and his successor

plundei-s and extorts again, as much as he possibly

can, as long as he can manage to keep his actions

secret.

An additional, and chief grievance, is the circum-

stance of the Viceroy being obliged to treat the

governors with the utmost lenity and forbearance;

for he knows full well how dangerous it would be

to irritate them, and thus, perhaps, to goad them on

to rebellion. In one moment the whole Belled

Soodan would be lost, and not so easily regained.

The troops of the garrison consist of native negroes, who implicitly obey those who give them the most,

or merely make them the largest promises, and who

more especially treat them with kindness. The

countr)' in general detests the Viceroy, believing