DISCOVERIES OF THE FRENCH. 163 
the mode in which justice was here administered. 
The Siratik was surrounded by ten old men, who 
examined the parties separately, and made their 
report to him. No attorney, or advocate, was to 
be seen ; each party pleaded his own cause, and 
the sentence was always executed without a mo- 
ment's delay. Few crimes are punished with 
death, but most by what is here termed banish- 
ment, which, when explained, proves to be, the 
selling him to the French company, and taking 
possession of his effects. The insolvent debtor is 
sold with his whole family — the king drawing a 
third of the price. 
The king being now incommoded by the mul- 
tiplication of the species of fly peculiar to this 
country, determined to remove to another part of 
his dominions, where he would escape that annoy- 
ance. Our traveller, therefore, took a friendly 
leave ; and before his departure, had an opportu- 
nity of observing the order of the royal march. 
The advanced guard consisted of a hundred and 
sixty horsemen, with different species of trumpets 
and timbrels, which made a noise, extremely loud, 
but destitute of any species of harmony. The 
queens and princesses next followed, mounted on 
camels, two on each, and so completely enclosed 
in large ozier baskets, that no part of them was 
seen except the head. The female attendants, 
mounted on asses, rode by the side of their mis- 
