182 TRAVELS IN AFRICA.

who, being much in his power, and from example and habit of a crouching mean disposition, in all cases where his Majesty's interest is concerned, decide in his favour.

The revenues, which are solely the property of the King, at least wholly at his disposal, are considerable, and consist in a tenth of all agricultural produce, and a custom or duty paid by the travelling merchants who pass through the country. This latter amounts to seven bottles of gunpowder, and one trade musket, or their value in other articles, for each ass load of European goods ; and must be accompanied by a present to the king and his head men. A refusal on the part of any of those merchants to comply with the exorbitant demands of these people, would inevitably lead to their being plundered, ' and probably to personal ill treatment. This, however, seldom takes place, as those merchants always endeavour, by some means or other, to conceal the most valuable part of their goods, cither about their persons or in the house of their host, (whom it is also necessary, to bribe) before they entrust the remainder to the inspection of tlie people appointed by the king for that purpose.

He derives also considerable emolument from a tenth of the salt imported from the coast by the natives of the country, and from an annual