INTERIOR OF AFRICA. I55 
sary, when crimes were committed, that examples should some- 
times be made. On such occasions, the offender was brought 
before Ali, who pronounced, of his sole authority, what judg- 
ment he thought proper. But I understood that capital punish- 
ment was seldom or never inflicted, except on the Negroes. 
Although the wealth of the Moors consists chiefly in their 
numerous herds of cattle ; yet, as the pastoral life does not afford 
full employment, the majority of the people are perfectly idle, 
and spend the day in trifling conversation about their horses, 
or in laying schemes of depredation on the Negro villages. 
The usual place of rendezvous for the indolent, is the King's 
tent ; where great liberty of speech seems to be exercised by the 
company towards each other ; while in speaking of their chief, 
they express but one opinion. In praise of their sovereign, they 
are unanimous. Songs are composed in his honour, which the 
company frequently sing in concert ; but they are so loaded with 
gross adulation, that no man but a Moorish despot, could hear 
them without blushing. The king is distinguished by the fine- 
ness of his dress ; which is composed of blue cotton cloth, 
brought from Tombuctoo, or white linen or muslin from Mo- 
rocco. He has likewise a larger tent than any other person, 
with a white cloth over it : but, in his usual intercourse with 
his subjects, all distinctions of rank are frequently forgotten. He 
sometimes eats out of the same bowl with his camel driver, and 
reposes himself, during the heat of the day, upon the same bed. 
The expences of his government and household are defrayed by 
a tax upon his Negro subjects, which is paid by every house- 
holder, either in com, cloth, or gold dust ; a tax upon the dif- 
X 2 
