74 o TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



Besides what they fell, and what they pay to the gover- 

 nor of Dam it, the Agows have a particular tribute which 

 they prefent to the king, one thoufand dabra of honey, each 

 dabra containing about fixty pounds weight, being a large 

 earthen veiTel. They pay, moreover, fifteen hundred oxen 

 and i ooo ounces of gold : formerly the number of jars of 

 honey was four thoufand, but feveral of thefe villages being 

 daily given to private people by the king, the quantity is 

 diminimed by the quota fo alienated. 1 he butter is all 

 fold ; and, fince the fatal battle of Banja, the king's fhare 

 comes only to about one thoufand jars. The officer that 

 keeps the accounts, and fees the rents paid, is called Agow 

 Miziker* ; his poll is worth one thoufand ounces of gold ; 

 and by this it may be judged with what ceconomy this 

 revenue is collected. This poll is generally the next to 

 the governor of Damot, but not of courfe ; they are fe- 

 parate provinces, and united only by the fpecial grant of the 

 king. 



Although I had with me two large tents fufficient for 

 my people, I was advifed to take poffemon of the houfes to 

 fecure our mules and horfes from thieves in the night, as 

 alfo from the alTaults of wild beafts, of which this country 

 is full. Almoft every fmall collection of houfes has behind 

 it a large cave, or fubterraneous dwelling, dug in the rock, 

 of a prodigious capacity, and which mull have been the 

 work of great labour. It is not poflible, at this diftance of 

 time, to fay whether thefe caverns were the ancient habita- 

 tion of the Agows when they were Troglodytes, or whether 



they 



* Accountant of the Agows. 



