74,0 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 
BesipEs what they fell, and what they pay to the gover- 
nor of Damot, 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 veffel. They pay, moreover, fifteen hundred oxen 
and 1000 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 
diminifhed by the quota fo alienated. The 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 poft is worth one thoufand ounces of gold; 
and by this it may be judged with what cconomy this 
revenue is collected. This poftis generally the next to 
the governor of Damot, but not of courfe; they are f¢- 
parate provinces, and united only by the fpecial grant of the 
king. 4 aS 
AtTuovucn I had with me two large tents fufficient for 
my people, I was advifed to take poffeffion of the houfes to 
fecure our mules and horfes from thieves in the night, as 
alfo from the affaults of wild beafts, of which this country 
is full. Almoft every fmall colletion of houfes has behind 
_ita large cave, or fubterraneous dwelling, dug in the rock, 
of a prodigious capacity, and which muft have been the 
work of great labour. It is not pofflible, 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. 
